Napoli among Italian clubs vying for Real Madrid defender

Real Madrid center back Nacho Fernandez could be set for a move to Serie A, at least according to the current churn of the rumor mill. According to reports, Napoli and Roma are frontrunners for his signature, though it sounds like plenty of other teams are trying to get their hands on the 26 year old defender.

Fernandez's agent, José Vicente, told Tuttomercato that "the player is happy in Madrid" but added that multiple clubs in Italy and other points abroad have inquired about Nacho. "If Madrid accept an offer for him," Vicente said, "then we'll evaluate it with that club, obviously." His agent went on to add that Fernandez is a football fanatic who regularly watches matches and follows other leagues, also confirming that Madrid had received offers from Italian clubs but refusing to name them.

Fernandez, born and raised in Madrid, entered Real's academy at the age of eleven. He made his debut with the senior side in 2011 but has struggled to find regular playing time since. Struggling for playing time behind players like Pepe, Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane is by no means an indictment of Nacho as a player, however -- in the modern era of prospects trying to break through at big clubs, that's just how things go sometimes.

Nacho has represented Spain at the U17, U19, U21 and senior level and was once seen as one of the more promising players within the Spanish national pool. Capable of playing in the center of the back line -- or even out wide in a pinch a move to a side where he's likely to play more might be exactly what he needs to kick start his career again.