Aston Villa star confirms Real Madrid interest in 2021 and explains why transfer collapsed: ‘I understand why they signed Alaba instead’

Aston Villa star confirms Real Madrid interest in 2021 and explains why transfer collapsed: ‘I understand why they signed Alaba instead’ Real Madrid have always been on the lookout for both superstars and talented youngsters. They have missed out on several promising defenders over the years, and now Aston Villa centre-back Pau Torres has spoken about how he could have ended up at the Bernabeu . The Spanish international attracted interest from Los Blancos back in 2021 when he was with Villarreal, but Real Madrid went in a different direction. Speaking in an interview with Diario AS , Torres confirmed that he was among the candidates Real Madrid considered signing that summer. Pau Torres opens up on failed Real Madrid move However, Los Blancos eventually opted for David Alaba, who was available on a free transfer following his departure from Bayern Munich. “Yes, ultimately being among the two or three candidates for a team like Real Madrid is always something very positive,” Torres admitted. Real Madrid could have signed Pau Torres in 2021. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images) “I also understand why they decided towards the end of the transfer window to go for a free agent like David Alaba.” “He was a more established player than me, with more experience,” the defender added. At the time, Madrid were moving into a new defensive era, with Sergio Ramos departing the club and Raphael Varane joining Manchester United. Torres, then 24, had earned a reputation as one of the best centre-backs in La Liga , making him a potential long-term option. Why Real Madrid’s decision made sense Ultimately, the availability of Alaba on a free transfer appealed more to Real Madrid, and understandably so. The Austrian arrived with an incredible track record as one of Bayern Munich’s best performers over multiple seasons. He could cover multiple positions, including left-back, centre-back and defensive midfield, and was arriving on a free transfer. Real Madrid eventually chose to go with David Alaba. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images) At that point, Los Blancos were fully justified in making that decision, but it didn’t necessarily work out. Alaba suffered an ACL injury months into his Real Madrid career, and when he returned, he was never quite the same player. The Austrian eventually left the club at the end of last season , while Pau Torres has gone on to become a reliable defender at Aston Villa. Had Real Madrid decided to go with Torres, the player’s career could have taken a different trajectory. This is yet another piece of trivia for the history books: a missed opportunity and a ‘what could have been’ story for the supporters.