Real Madrid News
Real Madrid veteran ‘practically out of the picture’ for next season
Real Madrid are gearing up for a significant squad overhaul ahead of the new season, and one of the biggest names affected by this transition is David Alaba.
The Austrian defender, once a key figure in the club’s backline, now finds himself increasingly sidelined in long-term planning.
According to a report from AS, with his contract approaching its final months, the veteran defender is ‘practically out of the picture’ for next season.
The current expectation within the club is that Alaba could leave on a free transfer, a scenario that aligns with Real Madrid’s intention to restructure both their squad and financial commitments.
A rebuild driven by recent struggles
After falling short in back-to-back seasons without major trophies, Real Madrid are now under pressure to refresh their squad.
The focus has shifted towards building a more balanced and sustainable team, capable of competing at the highest level consistently.
This transition is not just about bringing in new players, as it also involves making tough calls on established figures.
And this is where Alaba comes into the picture.
Financial considerations play a key role
One of the main reasons behind Alaba’s exit is the club’s wage structure.
As one of the highest earners in the squad, Alaba represents a significant financial commitment.
Offloading his salary would give Real Madrid much-needed flexibility in the transfer market, particularly as they look to invest in younger defensive options.
Letting him leave at the end of his contract, while not generating a transfer fee, would still ease the wage bill considerably and help fund incoming signings.
Injuries disrupt continuity
Alaba’s diminishing role is not purely financial, as persistent injury problems have prevented him from maintaining rhythm and consistency.
Despite his undeniable quality and leadership, his availability has become unreliable.
This season, his involvement has been minimal, with fewer than 400 minutes played across just 13 appearances.
For a player expected to anchor the defence, those numbers show a clear decline in influence.
Now, with Real Madrid actively planning defensive reinforcements, moving on from Alaba appears to be a practical decision, as it would allow the club to reset its defensive structure and free up crucial resources.
Real Madrid News
Mbappe hits out at claims on his unhappiness at Real Madrid: ‘Angry at my great aunt too’
Kylian Mbappe has been in the news for a plethora of reasons in recent weeks, starting with his injury and surprise vacation. Beyond that, the Ballon d’Or saga has kept him in the spotlight for a reasonable while now.
The Frenchman, after all, has not held back in speaking out about why he deserves to win the prestigious individual award, and while it is perfectly okay to campaign for the award, it is something that has not usually been done in the past.
In terms of his goalscoring numbers, there is no doubt that Mbappe should be a frontrunner for the award. His lack of a single trophy for both club and country, however, works against his chances.
Mbappe’s sarcastic reply to baseless rumours
Earlier today, there were reports of Kylian Mbappe being angry with Zinedine Zidane and Real Madrid for not campaigning for him to win the Ballon d’Or this year.
The rumours, needless to say, portrayed the player in a very bad light and made it seem like the club not making public gestures to acknowledge and back his campaign affected him personally.
Now, the player has himself come out to lash out at the journalists, albeit in a sarcastic manner. Commenting directly below the post making the claim via Fabrizio Romano, the player wrote,
“Yes, yes, I even got angry with my great aunt too.”
Mbappe’s ability to deal with such reports with a tinge of humour, needless to say, is impressive and it can only be good for his image that he spoke out and cut off the news at its roots.
Set to return
There has been significant concern around Mbappe’s fitness in recent weeks after the player left the French national team with an injury after their first game.
The initial diagnosis appeared worrying, but it soon came to light that the player had avoided a major setback by a hair’s breadth.
Now, there is increasing hope that the Frenchman will be back for Real Madrid’s first game after the break against Villarreal, possibly even as a starter.
Needless to say, that comes as a massive positive for Jose Mourinho’s plans ahead of a crucial stretch of the season.
