Al-Nassr centre-back Aymeric Laporte has said that he is open to making the move to Real Madrid.
Los Blancos are expected to sign a new central defender during the January transfer window, with the Spanish and European champions losing Eder Militao for the remainder of the campaign due to a serious knee injury.
Long-term absentee David Alaba is being backed to make his return either at the end of next month or in early January, but there are concerns when it comes to the Austrian due to the amount of time that he has spent on the sidelines.
Real Madrid are wary of putting too much pressure on Alaba in the second half of the campaign, which is expected to lead to an experienced centre-back arriving at Bernabeu during the January transfer window.
Laporte has been linked with a move to Los Blancos over the last few months, and the Spain international has said that he would find it very difficult to turn down the chance to move to Carlo Ancelotti's side.
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Laporte welcomes reported interest from Real Madrid
"I've read the same things as everybody else. It [Madrid's reported interest] sounds good," Laporte told reporters while on international duty with Spain. "Obviously, you don't look down on teams like Real Madrid.
"I've said it many times, my idea is to return to Europe. I went there [to Saudi Arabia] to play football, not to do other things. So far it hasn't been bad for me as while I've been there. I've won a European Championship, which is the most beautiful thing that has happened in my career."
Laporte is currently with the Spain squad preparing for their UEFA Nations League fixtures against Denmark and Switzerland, and he will then head back to Saudi Arabia to continue representing Al-Nassr.
The defender has made 15 appearances for his Saudi outfit this term, scoring three times, while he has represented them on 54 occasions since arriving from Manchester City in the summer of 2023.
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Would Laporte be a good signing for Real Madrid?
Even if Alaba returns at the end of the year, it will take some time for him to get up to speed after such a long period on the sidelines, and there will be immense pressure on Antonio Rudiger to stay fit if another centre-back is not signed.
Laporte started his professional career with Athletic Bilbao, representing the Basque outfit's first team between 2012 and 2018 before making the move to Man City, and he had a lot of success in Manchester.
The defender won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three League Cups and the Champions League during his time with Pep Guardiola's side, making 180 appearances in the process, and it was a surprise when he left European football behind.
Laporte showed his class for Spain at Euro 2024, though, and he has played every minute of his country's 2024-25 UEFA Nations League campaign to date, with Luis de la Fuente's side keeping three clean sheets in their four matches.
Al-Nassr will be determined to keep Laporte, who has a contract until June 2026, but he is keen to return to European football, and the experienced defender would be the perfect mid-season signing for Ancelotti's team.
Matt Law
