10 Months after the big injury, David Alaba cashes a terrible news

Austrian defender David Alaba, who recently returned to training, is not yet ready to rejoin Real Madrid in competition. On Sunday, devastating news broke for the 32-year-old.

This latest setback is particularly bad news for Alaba, who joined Real Madrid in 2021 after over a decade at Bayern Munich, where he played 431 matches and scored 34 goals. Alaba has faced a difficult year, having suffered a severe knee injury last December, which left a noticeable gap in Carlo Ancelotti’s squad. After months of recovery, the Austrian international resumed training a few days ago and was initially expected to return between December 2024 and January 2025.

Alaba is not totally cured

Although his comeback was hoped to strengthen Real Madrid’s defense, especially after Dani Carvajal’s serious injury against Villarreal on matchday nine of La Liga, Alaba’s return now seems uncertain. According to revelations from Radio Onda Cero, Alaba is experiencing pain during training due to cartilage friction in his knee, which causes his bones to rub together. This is a significant setback for the 32-year-old, who is struggling to fully recover from knee surgery following last year’s ligament rupture.Real Madrid is growing impatient with the situation, as Alaba remains under contract until June 2026. It has been reported that the club’s management sees it as essential to recruit a new defender in January to support the team. Although Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao have performed well so far, the demanding schedule may make it challenging for Carlo Ancelotti’s men.

As for Alaba’s future, while he is expected to return to competition by January, it remains unclear whether he will regain full fitness to contribute to the team in the coming months. Unlike Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao, who have recovered from their knee injuries, Alaba may face a longer road to recovery.

In the meantime, Real Madrid urgently needs to strengthen its defense. Fortunately, Ancelotti can rely on Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni, who have been outstanding this season. Among the five major European leagues, these two midfielders lead in ball interceptions, offering some reassurance to the team.