David Alaba continues to endure an ordeal since suffering a serious knee injury that left him sidelined for almost 400 days. Since his return, he has been far from regaining his form and has suffered injury after injury, preventing him from returning to his position as Real Madrid‘s undisputed center back. He faces an uncertain future in the first team.
Alaba and his injury
David Alaba suffered a serious injury to his right knee in the 2022–23 season and was sidelined for almost 400 days before making his comeback last January. However, his ordeal did not end with his return: unable to regain his form and suffering a string of injuries, the Austrian has lost the confidence of the club and the fans. He is now focused on the US with the squad, but it is highly doubtful that he will be able to play any minutes during the tournament due to his fitness.
Future at Real Madrid
David Alaba is currently Real Madrid’s fifth-choice center back. Rudiger, Asencio, Huijsen, and Militao himself have the advantage going into next season, meaning that the center back would have very few opportunities to play.
On the other hand, Alaba, who arrived on a free transfer several years ago after ending his contract with Bayern Munich, signed a lucrative contract, making him one of the highest-paid players in the squad. This is a problem for Real Madrid, who want to reduce their wage bill and would be willing to let the player go, even if it meant giving him a free transfer and paying him the year remaining on his contract with the club.
Alaba wants to stay
However, David Alaba does not want to hear about a possible departure from the club. He is happy in the city, says he has support from within and is convinced he can regain his top form to defend the white shirt with confidence.
Another factor to consider is the upcoming 2026 World Cup. The Austrian national team has a good chance of qualifying for the final round, currently sitting second in its group, and Alaba, who is available and a regular starter, believes that there is no better preparation or better showcase than Real Madrid.
Decision this summer
For the moment, Real Madrid has a meeting pending with the player, which will not take place until after the Club World Cup. The club is clear that it does not believe the Austrian will return to his best, among other things because he will not get the playing time he needs to regain his form. They do not expect to get anything from a possible sale, they want to give him a free transfer and agree on a departure price so that he can receive part of his contract, although they do not rule out paying it in full to reduce the cost of a squad in which he is one of the highest paid players.
Both parties will have to make a decision, but what seems clear is that David Alaba, who turns 33 on June 24, is in the final stretch of his career and does not look likely to return to prominence at Real Madrid, especially given the competition he faces.