Aymeric Laporte, who plays alongside Cristiano Ronaldo at Al-Nassr, has opened up about why he will be keen on going to Real Madrid if such a move transpires. Madrid have been hit with injuries in their defensive department, with Eder Militao their most recent casualty with an ACL tear. David Alaba too has a knee injury.

Laporte, who moved to Al-Nassr from Manchester City in the summer transfer window of 2023, is a defender that Los Blancos are keen on bringing to the club, ESPN reports. His presence in the backline will boost their defensive capabilities and allow them to perform unhinged in a long season.

The 30-year-old has now expressed his desire of moving back to Europe.

“I’ve read the same things as everybody else. It [Madrid’s reported interest] sounds good. Obviously, you don’t ignore 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,” said Laporte, according to ESPN.

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Laporte has made 54 appearances for Al-Nassr so far in his career, of which nine have come this season. The Spaniard has also found the back of the net on three occasions this season. The left-footed centre-back will surely add a lot of defensive stability to Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid if he joins in January.

Real Madrid desperately need defensive reinforcements in their squad

Real Madrid, who are ranked second in the La Liga table at the moment with 27 points to their name, desperately need defensive reinforcements. Along with Antonio Rudiger, Jesus Vallejo is the only fit senior centre-back in the squad at the moment. Right-back Dani Carvajal too has been ruled out with a long-term injury.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who played for Madrid from 2009 to 2018, might have a role in convincing Laporte to go to the Santiago Bernabeu. The two, who are currently teammates at Al-Nassr, get on well, and Laporte will likely not turn down any suggestions given to him by the Portuguese icon.