Razvan Gabriel Marin (born 23 May 1996) is a Romanian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Serie A club Empoli, on loan from Cagliari, and the Romania national team.
He began his senior career with local club Viitorul Constanta at age 17, quickly establishing himself as a first-team regular. His performances earned him a move to Standard Liege at the start of 2017, where he won the Belgian Cup in his first year. Two and a half seasons later, Marin transferred to Dutch team Ajax for a reported fee of €12.5 million, but did not impose himself and moved to Cagliari on an initial loan.
Marin made his debut with the Romania senior team in 2016, after having previously represented the country at several youth levels.
On 20 January 2017, Marin signed a four-and-a-half-year contract with Belgian side Standard Liege. Romanian press had initially reported the transfer value at €2.4 million, with Viitorul retaining undisclosed interest on the capital gain of a potential future transfer. He made his first Belgian First Division A appearance two days later, coming on as an 80th-minute substitute in a 0–3 loss to Club Brugge at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne.
Standard played league winner Club Brugge in the Belgian Super Cup on 22 July 2018, with Marin being once again in the starting eleven, however his team lost the match 1–2. He recorded his first European appearance for Standard in the UEFA Champions League's third qualifying round 2–2 home draw with Dutch side Ajax, on 7 August. Marin then played all six matches in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League, as his team finished third behind Sevilla and FC Krasnodar. Marin's good display throughout the year earned him the Romanian Footballer of the Year award at the 2018 Gala Fotbalului Romanesc, on 3 December. On the 21st that month, he finished second for the same trophy awarded by the Gazeta Sporturilor newspaper. Marin netted the first goal of 2019 on 3 February, in an eventual 2–1 victory against rivals Anderlecht.
Marin is usually deployed as either a central or a defensive midfielder, although he is also capable of playing in a more advanced position as an attacking midfielder. |
