مدير عام كرة القدم
- Alaba earns €22.5m, third highest at Madrid
- Behind only Mbappe and Vinicius in salary
- Missed over a year due to injury setbacks
According to Mundo Deportivo Alaba’s decline has become a problem for Madrid both on and off the pitch, with the club now stuck with a physically unreliable player earning €22.5 million (£19m/$26m) net per year, more than anyone in the squad except Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior.
Once seen as the heir to Sergio Ramos, Alaba initially thrived after joining from Bayern Munich in 2021, helping the club win both La Liga and the Champions League in his debut season. However, an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Villarreal in December 2023 derailed his career. After a 399-day recovery, he returned in January 2025, only to be plagued by fresh physical problems. He made just 14 appearances last season, starting only five times.
The Austrian is under contract with Los Blancos until June 2026, but his torn ACL in 2023 has significantly impacted his reliability. He managed just one full 90-minute appearance last season and hasn’t completed back-to-back matches since returning from injury. Madrid had hoped to count on him as a defensive leader, but his prolonged absence has left a noticeable void in the backline.
Madrid are desperate to reduce their wage bill and see Alaba as a key piece to offload. The club are still awaiting offers, and a loan move may be considered if a full transfer is not possible this summer. However, with his physical reliability in doubt, clubs remain hesitant. The club’s sporting leadership will likely revisit his situation late in the transfer window, possibly pushing for a mutual agreement or partial wage coverage to facilitate an exit.
