David Alaba‘s return to the pitch after his serious injury is not going as expected, and the footballer is performing well below not only his pre-injury level, but also well below the level expected of him at this point in the season. His age and high salary have put him in a difficult position, and tonight against Arsenal he could be gambling with his future.
David Alaba and his future
David Alaba has been one of the players singled out by Real Madrid in recent matches. His return to the pitch after his serious injury has not had the desired impact. It was expected that the player would struggle to regain his rhythm, which is only logical after such a serious injury, but he is taking longer than expected.
He has not quite recovered the pace and speed necessary to offer guarantees at the back for the Whites and this has led to speculation about his future outside the club for next season. However, Alaba is holding on tight to another season at Real Madrid. The footballer has a valid contract, says he feels the support of the board and the coaching staff, and feels capable of being at 100% when the next season starts. On the horizon is the 2026 World Cup. Alaba believes that there is no better preparation for such an event than to continue at a club with the demands of Real Madrid, so he has no plans to leave.
The acid test against Arsenal
David Alaba has a great opportunity to prove his worth tonight against Arsenal, but it could also be his downfall. Carlo Ancelotti is relying on the experience of the player for this game, and his versatility is also a plus, as the Whites could opt for a back three with him, Rudiger and Asencio at various stages of the game. Although a priori he will start as a left back, he will have a tough nut to crack up front in the form of Saka, who, despite returning from a three-month injury in the first leg, drove the Austrian crazy.
Carlo Ancelotti is showing that he currently has more confidence in Alaba, who is far from 100%, than in Fran García. The decision was already questioned in the first leg and will be again now, but the outcome of the tie will be decisive for the debate, but it will also pass sentence on the footballer.
Obviously, with his contract still in force, Alaba’s future will not be determined solely by tonight’s game, but a bad performance could put him at the center of all the criticism, and the pressure that this entails for Real Madrid is not easily bearable for any player.
David Alaba will be 33 years old in June and has one of the highest salaries in the Real Madrid squad, and his time at Real Madrid could soon be over. The serious injury he suffered just over a year ago slowed down a player who was Ancelotti’s undisputed choice at the heart of the defense. Tonight he will have a litmus test that could define his future at Real Madrid. If the Whites emerge victorious and put in a good performance, he could be given the opportunity and the confidence to endure another year as a Real Madrid defender. But if they lose, he could be signing his own death warrant at the club. Nights like tonight can elevate any footballer to the top, but they can also bury a player’s career forever.