David Alaba will remain at Real Madrid to fulfill the final year of his contract. According to the latest rumors, the club wants to terminate his agreement with the Austrian, as they did with Eden Hazard in 2023. After his time at the Santiago Bernabéu did not live up to expectations, both the Belgian and Chamartín agreed to part ways. However, in the case of the center back, there will be no premature separation. As Grada 3 has learned, the Austrian will remain at Valdebebas until June 30, 2026, and will not be “cut” by the club.
Alaba has never had any intention of leaving Real Madrid, for several reasons. First, because he likes the Spanish capital. Second: the money. He arrived at Valdebebas on a free transfer in 2021 and was offered a salary of around €22.5 million. Today, including his signing bonuses, only Kylian Mbappé is ahead of him. So, logically, the Vienna native does not want to give up what is owed to him, although he still hopes to leave through the front door of the Santiago Bernabéu.
💪 @David_Alaba pic.twitter.com/j868h0JfPU
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) August 5, 2025
Alaba is no Hazard
The player, who turned 33 on June 24, still believes he can perform at the highest level, although his time in Madrid has been marred by injuries. He has suffered 12 in total since pulling on the white shirt. Things got even worse in December 2023 when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. His ordeal began. Since then, David has not been the same Alaba.
399 days after his injury, on January 19, 2025, against Las Palmas, the Austrian regained his smile. In front of a Santiago Bernabéu crowd that gave him a standing ovation, the defender stepped back onto the pitch. He played for 15 minutes and the sensations were good. However, he was unable to continue and returned to the Madrid infirmary. On April 29, Alaba tore the medial meniscus in his left knee. He underwent surgery the following day and began another countdown. The Club World Cup was the goal. But he was unable to make it, as on June 27, in the middle of a tour of the United States, Real Madrid announced that he was suffering from “a muscle injury in his left calf.” In total, David only played 600 minutes spread over 14 games during the 2024-25 season.
A new opportunity?
Due to his numerous injuries and generous salary, Real Madrid are looking to offload him. The Valdebebas offices are willing to listen to offers for him… although the Austrian is not interested in leaving. The player is adamant: he would consider leaving if an offer tripled (or more) his current contract, but otherwise he would think about it. For now, no team has made an offer of that caliber. But in the transfer market, you never say never.
In his mind, David wants another chance with the Whites. The 33-year-old defender remains convinced that he can contribute something to Xabi Alonso. His experience, his winning mentality, his leadership. He wants to stay and be a role model for the younger players. The Real Madrid number 4 wants to leave the Santiago Bernabéu on a high note. With the conviction that he has given his all, from start to finish. And for now, things are starting to fall into place. Little by little.
According to Grada 3, Alaba is doing well and the start of the preseason is going perfectly for him. Since Xabi Alonso‘s players resumed training in Valdebebas, the center back has completed all sessions with the group without any setbacks. He is expected to make his return against WSG Tirol on Tuesday, August 12, in the Whites’ first (and only, for now) preseason match. The match will be held at the Tivoli Stadion in Innsbruck, in his native Austria. An extra motivation. Step by step. Training session by training session.