It’s been a long road back to competitive football for David Alaba, but the former Real Madrid defender has finally found a new home — and it’s in Serie A. Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano confirmed this week that the Austrian centre-back has signed a one-year deal with Udinese, keeping him under contract until June 2027.
What Happened
Alaba, now 34, departed Real Madrid this past summer as a free agent after his contract expired at the Bernabéu. It was a quiet, low-key end to what had been a turbulent final chapter in the Spanish capital — one overshadowed almost entirely by injury. The Austrian spent the vast majority of his time at the club sidelined rather than playing, and after yet another season largely spent on the treatment table, Madrid and Alaba parted ways without fuss when his deal ran out.
Since then, Alaba and his representatives had been working through their options, with the defender understandably taking his time to find the right fit. That search has now ended, with Udinese emerging as his destination. Romano’s confirmation — complete with his trademark “here we go” — made it official: Alaba joins the Italian side on a short-term, one-year contract.
A Career That Deserves to Be Remembered Properly
It would be a shame if Alaba’s time at Real Madrid — and his career more broadly — was defined purely by the injury nightmare that consumed his final years. When he arrived at the Bernabéu in the summer of 2021 on a free transfer from Bayern Munich, Alaba was considered one of the most versatile and decorated defenders in European football. He had won the Champions League with Bayern, been part of one of the most dominant club sides of the last decade, and brought genuine big-game experience to Carlo Ancelotti’s squad.
In his first couple of seasons in Madrid, Alaba delivered. He was a composed, commanding presence in the heart of the Los Blancos backline, contributing to the La Liga title wins and, most memorably, Real Madrid’s remarkable run to the Champions League title in 2021-22 — one of the most dramatic and celebrated European campaigns in the club’s storied history. For Madridistas, that period will always be associated with magic, and Alaba was part of the defensive spine that made it possible.
But a serious knee ligament injury derailed everything. From late 2023 onwards, appearances became increasingly rare, and the Austrian’s Real Madrid story gradually faded to a sad footnote rather than the triumphant final chapter it might have been. By the time his contract expired this summer, there was little debate about whether he would stay — the writing had been on the wall for some time.
What’s Next for Alaba — and for Madrid
For Real Madrid, Alaba’s departure was already factored in long before it became official. The club has moved on, and Ancelotti’s defensive options — whatever shape the current squad takes — no longer rely on the Austrian. From a purely sporting perspective, Madrid said goodbye to Alaba the moment his fitness issues made him an unreliable option at the highest level.
For Alaba himself, Udinese represents a chance at something he hasn’t had in years: regular football. A mid-table Serie A side might feel like a step down for a player of his pedigree, but at 34 and coming off a prolonged injury nightmare, getting back on the pitch consistently is what matters most. A one-year deal is a sensible, low-risk arrangement for both parties — it gives Alaba an opportunity to prove he can still perform, and gives Udinese an experienced, high-quality operator if he can stay fit.
For Madridistas, this is largely a chapter closed rather than breaking news. The feelings around Alaba’s exit are probably more bittersweet than anything else — fond memories of what he contributed in better times, mixed with sadness that injuries robbed him (and us) of the send-off a player of his quality deserved. We wish him well in Italy.
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