Pau Torres has previously hinted he could be ready to leave Villarreal this summer, with Manchester United in the hunt for the defender after realising his dream of playing in the Champions League with Villarreal.
The Spanish side have been the surprise package of the tournament so far knocking Juventus and Bayern Munich out of the competition to set up a semi-final clash with Liverpool, with the Reds potentially ending their involvement in the tournament if they can keep up their current form.
Unai Emery's men might not be producing consistent results on the domestic front but they have plenty of European pedigree after winning the Europa League last season which granted them qualification to this season's Champions League.
Torres was one of the standout performers during Villarreal's run to Gdansk last year including an impressive performance against United in the final as they claimed a dramatic victory on penalties.
The Red Devils got a front-row seat of his star talent and were one of the defenders on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's shortlist before they made a move for Raphael Varane.
The Spanish international revealed that he wasn't ready to leave Villarreal yet as he wanted to play for his hometown club in the Champions League, something that doesn't come around often.
And that decision has been vindicated somewhat as Emery's men have all got all the way to the final four which not many would have predicted at the start of the season.
Torres has once again impressed during this season's European journey and he continues to attract more suitors as each game passes. United have revived their interest in the centre-half amid Harry Maguire's struggles with Eric Bailly primed to leave the club. Chelsea are also keen as they are desperate for defensive reinforcements with Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen set to be free agents in the summer.
But Torres has suggested there could be a different outcome this summer now that he has experienced Champions League football with Villarreal as the Spanish club's chiefs have maintained the stance that it is his decision if he wants to leave or not.
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"The pull of playing the Champions League with the team from my town was bigger," he told The Guardian back in November. "I was clear from the start. This is only the fourth time Villarreal reached the Champions League, which shows how hard it is, and it was a dream to play in the competition with my lifelong club.
"The president didn't put pressure on me, even though they could make a lot of money. He always said 'the decision's yours', that he'd respect it. I appreciate that.
"What I could experience with the club was unrepeatable. I'm comfortable in my town, with my close people, and the group we have and the people we signed – [Arnaut] Danjuma, Boulaye [Dia], Gerard [Moreno] renewed. I'm enjoying it. It's a special year, the group is very close, that's why I stayed."
