Pau Torres emerges as Sergio Ramos' heir apparent
The 23-year-old central defender is attracting interest after his performances for Spain and Villarreal and has a release clause of €50m.
Pau Torres is rapidly installing himself as LaLiga’s most coveted central defender after emerging through the ranks at Villarreal to take his place alongside Sergio Ramos for Spain following the retirement of the Real Madrid captain’s longtime international partner Gerard Piqué. Torres, 23, cemented his place in the Yellow Submarine’s first team in 2019-20 after his making his debut aged 19 and is now considered one of the most assured centre halves in the division as he approaches 50 top-flight appearances at club level.
Torres has exceptional vision, is comfortable playing the ball out, solid in the air and not prone to lapses of concentration or rash decisions. Almost the complete defender, his detractors suggest he lacks leadership qualities and a touch of aggressiveness but playing alongside Ramos at international level, where has already has seven caps and a goal to his name, should help him to gain both of those qualities.
Torres also has the advantage of the experience of Raúl Albiol at his side at club level. The former Real Madrid defender and Spain international, who has played alongside Ramos on numerous occasions, says that his club protégé has the potential to become one of the best in the business: “For Pau is it a blessing to have Sergio Ramos at his side. It’s a good thing that he has can learn from a defender of that level, someone who is beyond the pale.”
Torres an attractive prospect for Madrid at €50m
The fact that Torres plays alongside Ramos for Spain in a profitable partnership where the qualities of one complement the other is unlikely to pass unnoticed at Real Madrid, where Raphaël Varane is under the microscope. Although Ramos’ contract situation remains unclear, history suggests that the captain will end up agreeing to another deal at the Bernabéu where Torres, who has a release clause of €50m (which could rise to €75m with add-ons) at Villarreal, could well be under consideration as a partner and eventual successor to Ramos.