Rafa Marín will return to the Estadio de la Cerámica this Tuesday as the defensive linchpin for Allegri's Napoli, and the Real Madrid academy product will be interviewed by AS.

In Napoli, your first stint didn't last long, but you eventually won the Serie A title; this time, you've become a key player for the team. How have you adapted to these two completely different experiences?

"The first experience was very important because I had just come from Deportivo Alavés, and it was a very important step in my career. I came to a club with many high-level players, so I knew I might not get much playing time, but I didn't expect it to be so little... really very little. Honestly, that period was tough for me, but I feel I grew a lot mentally and physically. In the end, thank God, we won the Serie A title, which I always remember, and it was this step that allowed me to later go to a big club like Villarreal. The second experience has been much better. I am much stronger mentally now, more mature, and physically better prepared. I think that's already evident. I feel strong and good."

What is the difference between Conte and Allegri? What do you think Massimo brings out best in you?

"Allegri brings out my characteristics more because his style of play emphasizes possession and playing football. I think in Spain, no player dislikes playing football (laughs). Also, from a physical perspective, I think it's related to Italian football, because games here are very physically demanding. Allegri and Conte are both excellent coaches, I can't speak ill of either of them, but it's clear that I'm more comfortable this year."

Did you have any hesitation when considering a return to Napoli?

"No, not at all. My time at Villarreal ended, which was a very good experience, and it was in my home country of Spain, but my idea was always to prepare myself first and then return to Napoli, because I think it's a very big club, and the facts are there. My idea is to stay here as long as I can."

We previously talked about your devotion to Saint Benedict... In Naples, people revere San Gennaro, almost as strongly as they worship Maradona. Are you struck by how Diego is still revered today?

"Absolutely. When people talk about this city, they talk about Maradona. I think it's just a first name and a last name, that's it. It's so striking. Everyone tells you, but until you actually come here and experience it firsthand... you walk anywhere, really, even any corner of Naples, and you see a Diego jersey, a mural. The whole world has him tattooed on their skin, on their lips, it's incredible. For a player to give so much to a city, so much to a club, it really gives you goosebumps. And it's important because the people here have such a deep love for football, and you feel the warmth of the fans."

Now it's the club's centenary year. Do you feel that winning a trophy would make everything more complete?

"I couldn't participate in the opening events of the centenary celebration because we were in preseason training camp at the time. Some teammates who came were there. I regret not being able to go because it's something you might only experience once in a lifetime, especially in Naples, where people feel so strongly about it. Obviously, every season you want to achieve something, you want to win, that's just how it is. But if we could at least win a title in the club's centenary year, to add another chapter to this history, that would certainly be even better. That would be absolutely incredible."

You and Rrahmani form a very strong center-back partnership...

"Rrahmani is truly amazing, very experienced in Serie A. He has played here his whole life, which makes many things simple. In the first few games I played with him, he always talked to me, helped me, guided me... I feel very comfortable playing with him, and I think he feels the same with me. He helps me grow."

What is your life like in the city at the foot of Mount Vesuvius?

"Different, but certainly beautiful. When you go out on the street, people greet you, ask for photos or videos. When you want to go out quietly for a walk, you just wear a hat and sunglasses, and that's it (laughs). But the love for football here is truly amazing, it's fantastic, you feel more important than you actually are. People treat you like a great person, and that's something to be grateful for. And the food here is amazing, I'm a big meat-eater, but I also particularly love ordering pasta alle vongole; it's light but very flavorful. We can start talking about tomorrow's game against Villarreal now."

What do you expect to experience returning to the Estadio de la Cerámica?

"Honestly, it's a Champions League match. I think every Champions League game reminds you of that childhood dream of playing in such a competition. It's special. I'm returning to a place that was very good to me. Not just teammates, I have many friends there. But despite that, I still hope to beat them and bring three points back to Napoli."

What impression did Villarreal leave on you? It's no longer a "miracle"...

"Villarreal is a strong team that exists in reality. Many people think their reaching the Champions League is a miracle, but they have played very well for two consecutive seasons, and they have many excellent and competitive players in the team, fully deserving of being at the top of the standings. Over the years, Villarreal has made great progress and has grown to stay here for the long term."

The Yellow Submarine had an important figure in Albiol, who also left his mark at Napoli. Do you see him as a role model?

"Of course, he is also a benchmark here in Napoli. In fact, every time I talk to someone, they say: 'You have to be like Albiol.' And I reply: 'Yes, I want to be like Albiol, hehe (laughs).' My former teammates at Villarreal spoke very highly of him, and as a person too."

The Yellow Submarine's squad is still 90% the same as last season. Which of your friends' situations would you relay to Allegri?

"Wow, I'd certainly be happy to tell him (laughs), but in today's football, it's not really necessary. Although I only spent a year with them, I think the Napoli coaching staff knows more about them than I do, because they do a lot of research, watch a lot of videos, do a lot of analysis... But if I had to give a clue, it would be Malen. He's a very talented player, everyone knows his ability. He might seem quiet for the whole game, but suddenly he can make one of his breakthroughs, cut in, and put the ball there (he points to an imaginary goal). Of course, there's also G. Moreno, Ayoze Perez... they are all excellent, really."

Do you think you could have established yourself at Napoli this year as you have, if you hadn't had that experience at Villarreal?

"That experience made me mature a lot... and a coach like Marcelino can also greatly improve your defensive performance. He places great emphasis on the defensive line, requiring you to always be in the correct position and not let opponents score. And because it was a Champions League season, you will definitely improve... coincidentally, this round's fixtures include a double header between Italian and Spanish teams."

Real Madrid will travel to face Roma, who are currently leading Serie A. What do you think Real Madrid will encounter at the Stadio Olimpico?

"Without a doubt, it will be a very difficult match. Roma is in good form this season, playing very organized football, and controlling the ball well. They are a very physical team that runs a lot, and in today's football, running distance is very important. It will be a very good contest..."

They have Malen, the top scorer in Serie A, who might not be as well-known in Spain, but he's on fire in Italy, right?

"Yes, that's right, he is a pure goalscorer. He's good at finding space and also holding up the ball. He's the type of player who is always focused on the goal, and he's in great form recently. Such players must be marked closely."

You've faced so many forwards in Serie A and the Champions League, is there anyone who particularly impressed you?

"Although not a forward, I have to say Ødegaard. He is so good, so technically gifted, his ball control is simply a performance, and I think a large part of Arsenal's power comes from him. I had seen him before at Valdebebas, but honestly, he wasn't like this then. Now he is the leader of Arsenal."

Speaking of Real Madrid's youth academy, you are a product of Valdebebas, and you are also one of Real Madrid's most important sales financially in recent years... This summer, the record for selling academy players was broken. What is the secret of Real Madrid's youth academy that allows it to produce so many top-level players like you?

"Real Madrid prepares you very well. At the youth level, it's already evident that they have many extremely talented players, but beyond that, Real Madrid instills that gene in you: the gene of competition, the gene of never giving up on a game, and I think that's why I've improved so much. It also teaches you a lot about technique, how to pass the ball, how to control the ball, how to control a game. It's the best youth academy in the world, the best players are there, so it's normal to produce a continuous stream of players like this."

Nico Paz also went to Italy. He was your teammate at Castilla, and you played against him in Como a few weeks ago. Did you anticipate such an explosion from him?

"The year I was with him at Castilla, there were also Sergio Arribas and Nico. Those two number tens were incredible! If you could put both of them on the team, they would definitely both play. Nico was younger at the time, and Arribas played more, but Nico already showed he had many ways to get out of defense, that ball protection, that turn... Well, I don't need to say much more now, everyone has already seen it. But he has evolved even further now. Today he is an Argentina national team player, the best player for Como..."

What else can we say? The outside world has long talked about the crisis of the Italian national team and how Spanish football continues to impress. You are familiar with both worlds. What do you think is Italian football's greatest strength right now? And in what areas is it slightly lagging?

"Football is mostly about timing, and everything is going well for the national team right now. We have luck. And many young players in the national team are constantly growing and maturing, which is important. It's a united group. The Italian national team has always had a strong character, that fighting spirit to battle to the end in every game, which they shouldn't lose, because for me, that's one of the most important things in football—the fighting spirit. I think their results will gradually come back."

The famous "catenaccio" of Italian football, based on your age, you must have heard about it from your father...

"Does it still exist? My father never told me about catenaccio... (laughs) What is that? It's that classic impenetrable defense. Well, yes, at certain times it might have been more like that, but today, if you look at Italian football, the whole team man-marks all over the field. I haven't seen that in Spain, for example, here. Here, if you press high and lose the ball in a challenge, the opponent is very likely to rush towards your goal faster. This is not very conservative football, quite the opposite; they start attacking from the defensive line, trying to win the ball back as high up as possible."

You have experience in all levels of the Spanish national youth teams, up to the U21s. We all know that making it to the senior national team is a dream, but now everything is going well, the second star is shining, and the team is in such a sweet era. Do you feel an even stronger desire to join this journey now?

"Of course, I always want to be in the national team, always. Now they are in great form, you can see it's a big family, a united group, and even when they're not at their best, they can win. What more can you ask for when you can win and play so well? This is definitely a dream, and I hope it comes true soon."

Are you watching LaLiga? What do you think?

"Yes. I always follow Deportivo Alavés because that team influenced me a lot, I'm already a 'Babazorro'; I also follow Villarreal, where I have many friends. This league will be very tight, it won't be decided until the last few rounds. It's the same here in Italy, I hope. The year we won the Serie A title, it was decided on the last day, and that feeling gives you even more goosebumps... Leave everything to God, but if it could be Napoli's title in the end, that would be the best."

We understand that although Barcelona has pulled away a bit, you think Real Madrid will recover and continue to push?

"I think so. Real Madrid is Real Madrid, we've seen them 'written off' countless times in the Champions League, but they are always there. It's just the beginning now, there's still a long way to go. Real Madrid has a very strong squad, and I think this will be a very competitive league."

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