Bayer Leverkusen chief Fernando Carro admits Kai Havertz came close to joining Real Madrid in 2020.
Havertz eventually moved to Chelsea before leaving for Arsenal last summer.
Real Madrid contacted Bayer in 2020 to acquire his services, but they couldn't match Bayer's €80m asking price.
Carro recalled to Onda Cero: "We recommended Havertz wait, but he wanted to win titles.
“We sold to Chelsea. One of the reasons was the ambition he had."
For Carro, Havertz is “a player who, due to his football and quality, had the capacity to fit better in a Spanish club".