Real Madrid has to make important decisions with the coming years in mind, and among the players whose future is uncertain is David Alaba. The Austrian will soon turn 33 years old and his recent seasons have been marked by injuries. He has a contract until 2026 and one of the highest salaries on the squad, with Florentino having offered him the chance to leave if he wished.
On the table, Alaba has received significant offers from Saudi Arabia and has already made a final decision. Even though he had the door open to leave for free, he has informed Real Madrid that he has decided to stay next season, as reported by Diario AS. He intends to fulfill his entire contract and his wish will be respected, with no attempt to force his departure in any way.
"I'm going to stay at Real Madrid"
David Alaba has made a firm decision: he will remain at Real Madrid until 2026, the year his contract ends. Despite the doubts raised after his serious injury and the coaching change with Xabi Alonso's arrival, he has chosen to continue wearing white for another season.
Florentino Pérez had opened the door for him to leave this summer, aware of the defender's current situation. The serious knee injury he suffered last season and the high level of competition in the back line with Rüdiger, Huijsen, and the emergence of young players like Raúl Asencio or Joan Martínez made an exit seem likely. In addition, Xabi Alonso doesn't fully consider him a priority piece in his new project. Even so, the club fully respects his decision.
David Alaba, 32 years old, has communicated his intention to stay, fulfill his contract, and regain his best form after months out. His versatility—he can play as a center-back or full-back—and his experience can still be valuable assets, especially in a season as demanding as the one Madrid will face.
Florentino values his professionalism and commitment. Although he is no longer an undisputed starter as he was in his first seasons, David Alaba keeps significant respect within the locker room. He has been key in recent titles.
Madrid won't put any obstacles in the way of his continuity, and now it will be David Alaba who will have to show on the field that he still has a lot of soccer left. After a long recovery, he needs time to readapt, but his competitive character and track record back him up. The Austrian is staying: he wants to close his time at Santiago Bernabéu as what he has always been, a leader.