Real Madrid did not have the best preparation for the 2025-26 campaign, due to a shortened schedule for the season-drilled by their involvement at the club World Cup earlier this summer. However, that did not prevent head coach Xabi Alonso to draw up several plans for his team, and one of them concerns David Alaba.
In an ideal world, Real Madrid would have seen the back of Alaba this summer, since there are major concerns about his ability to contribute – and stay fit. However, he has made it clear that he will linger and Alonso has thought about how he can best use the Austrian defender.
Alaba would be fifth choice in the central defense, but he could be more known in a different position. According to Marca, Alonso is considering using the 33-year-old as a midfielder.
Alaba has never played in midfield for Real Madrid since he came to Bayern Munich four years ago, after he was only seen in the left back and center-back. However, he played several times in the center of the park in Germany, and he also presented there on a more regular basis at an international level.
Real Madrid hopes to sign a midfielder this summer, but that will only take place if there is a first team of exit in the coming weeks – with Alaba excluded, the most likely candidates to leave Rodrygo Goes, Ferland Mendy and Dani Ceballos. And if the latter were to join Real Betis, that in recent days had been reported as a possibility, the opportunities that Alaba is being used in midfield would increase further.
For now it is still to be seen whether Alonso Alaba used as a midfielder during the first weeks of the new La Liga season. There is a scope, given that Eduardo Camavinga and Jude Bellingham are out because of injury.