Real Madrid has made major signing sessions this summer, but there will also be significant deviations from the Xabi Alonso team. Luka Modric has been confirmed that he is leaving and he will be followed by Lucas Vazquez – both players will not have their contracts renewed. Rodrygo Goes is also strongly connected to a move, and another player who could continue is David Alaba.
Alaba was an undisputed starter for Real Madrid recently as December 2023, but an ACL injury saw its prominent fall considerably. And since he returned from that blow, he has difficulty returning to the levels he once showed.
Alaba will enter the next season and is the fifth-choice central defender in Real Madrid, behind Dean Huijsen, Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao and Raul Asencio. And there could even be an argument for Aurelien Tchouameni who also advocates him in the pecking order, with the midfielder used during the club World Cup by Alonso in the defense.
It is almost certain that Alaba will not have expanded its Real Madrid contract, which would mean a departure in 2026. But according to Diario, because the club prefers him this summer to save his wages, although they acknowledge that there will be insufficient interest because of its high salary and lack of prominent problems.
Real Madrid has already tried to reach a mutual termination of contract with Alaba, but it was not successful. And it is unlikely that the 33-year-old forces an exit because he is an undisputed starter for Austria, which would still be the case, even if he could hardly be seen for Los Blancos during the 2025-26 season.
It is logical that Alaba could be moved this summer, but if Alonso permanently deployed a three-defender formation, he would be needed as a depth option. As such, it would be very surprising to see him leave in 2025.