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Ivory CoastUdinese Secure Signing of Champion Defender David Alaba
Former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich defender David Alaba has officially signed with Serie A side Udinese as a free agent.
A Major Addition in Italy
Udinese completed a major signing on Thursday by bringing in defender David Alaba. The defender, who is 34 years old, has joined the Serie A club as a free agent. He had been without a team since his contract with Real Madrid expired at the end of last season.
Alaba spent five years with the Spanish giants. During his time in Madrid, he won 11 trophies. This haul included two Champions League titles, two league trophies, and two FIFA Club World Cups.
Before his time in Spain, the defender spent 13 years with German powerhouse Bayern Munich. He won 10 Bundesliga titles and two Champions Leagues during his highly successful spell in Germany. He has also played 117 times for Austria and captained his country at the World Cup this summer.
Overcoming Injury and Finding a New Role
The veteran defender is looking for a fresh start after dealing with fitness issues. Alaba suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament injury in 2023. The injury required surgery and limited his playing time toward the end of his spell in Spain.
Now, he is ready to help Udinese turn their season around. The Italian club currently sits 13th in the Serie A standings. They have earned four points from their first five matches and have lost their last three games.
Udinese general manager Franco Collavino expressed great excitement about the signing. He stated that bringing Alaba to the club is a source of immense satisfaction. Collavino described the defender as an established champion, a leader, and an exemplary professional. He added that the signing shows the club's determination to compete at the highest level.
Alaba's Ambition
Despite his long list of achievements, Alaba insists he is not moving to Italy to ease into retirement. He made it clear that he still wants to win and compete.
"I'm not coming here just to be the veteran of the squad, and I certainly didn't come here to wind down my career," Alaba said. He explained that he remains highly ambitious and believes in what he can do on the pitch.
The defender also noted that coach Kosta Runjaić made his plans clear. Alaba wants to bring his experience to the dressing room, take on responsibility, and help the younger players. He is excited about the challenge of performing at the highest level in Serie A week in and week out.
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