According to a report by Madrid Universal on Monday November 2, 2026, Aston Villa defender Pau Torres has confirmed that Real Madrid considered signing him in 2021 but eventually decided to bring David Alaba to the Santiago Bernabeu instead.

The Spanish international revealed that he was among the two or three candidates Los Blancos considered during the summer transfer window when they were looking to strengthen their defence.

Torres was playing for Villarreal at the time and had established himself as one of the most promising centre-backs in Spanish football.

Real Madrid were preparing for a new defensive era following the departures of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane, who joined Manchester United.

However, the Spanish giants eventually opted for Alaba, who became available on a free transfer after leaving Bayern Munich.

Speaking in an interview with Diario AS, Torres confirmed the interest and admitted that being considered by a club of Real Madrid's stature was a positive experience.

"Yes, ultimately being among the two or three candidates for a team like Real Madrid is always something very positive," he said.

The Aston Villa defender also explained that he understood why the club eventually chose the Austrian international.

"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," Torres added.

Alaba arrived at Real Madrid with an impressive record from his successful spell at Bayern Munich. Apart from his experience at the highest level, his ability to play as a centre-back, left-back and defensive midfielder made him an attractive option for the Spanish giants.

His availability without a transfer fee also appealed to Real Madrid as they looked to rebuild their defence following the exits of Ramos and Varane.

However, Alaba's time in Madrid was eventually affected by injury problems. The Austrian suffered a serious ACL injury and struggled to return to his previous level after recovering.

He eventually departed the club at the end of last season, while Torres continued his career and established himself as a reliable defender at Aston Villa.

The 2021 decision has therefore become an interesting transfer story, with Real Madrid choosing the more experienced Alaba over the younger Spanish defender.

Torres, however, has made it clear that he understands the reasoning behind the club's decision and remains positive about having been considered for a move to the Bernabeu.

His revelation offers a glimpse into Real Madrid's defensive plans during a significant period of transition, when the club was searching for replacements for two of its most influential defenders.