OLANREWAJU IBITOYE
David Alaba is set to be unveiled as a Real Madrid player at Santiago Bernabeu today.
The 28-year-old joined the Madrid side on a free transfer fee, with a contract until 2026 after deciding to run his contract down with Bayern Munich.
A statement from Real Madrid on Tuesday reads: “Real Madrid C. F. are pleased to announce that tomorrow, Wednesday 21 July at 12:30pm, David Alaba will be presented at Real Madrid City as a new Real Madrid player. David Alaba will then address the media in an online press conference.”
Alaba joined Bayern Munich in 2008 and has since played 431 games for the first team and won ten league titles, six DFB Pokal and two Champions League and World Club Cup.
He was voted Austrian Footballer of the Year on seven occasions (including six consecutive times from 2011 to 2016), and named in the UEFA Team of the Year three times.
David Alaba’s Austria side had a great outing at the Euro 2020 before being knocked out by Italy in the Round of 16 at Wembley and the versatile defender was instrumental to the great run. He had an assist and a Man of the Match (MotM) award for his scintillating display against North Macedonia which ended 3-1.
Alaba joins the list of national team captains at Real Madrid. The other three being Modric (Croatia), Bale (Wales), and Hazard (Belgium).
Alaba’s presence in the defence will ensure a more robust compactness and the absence of Sergio Ramos will most definitely not be missed.
He is set to reunite with former teammates, Toni Kroos and Alvaro Odriozola at the Los Blancos in a bid to dethrone current La Liga Champions Atletico Madrid and with Carlo Ancelloti returning to Bernabeu.