Alaba is hard to understand.

David Alaba's career is being torn in two by injuries: he remains a steadfast leader for the Austrian national team, but at Real Madrid he is only present in a makeshift and fragile state.

David Alaba's career is being torn in two by injuries.

Nearly two years have passed since David Alaba collapsed on the Bernabeu pitch during the match against Villarreal, the moment he had to undergo surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. At that time, Real Madrid lost two key central defenders simultaneously, as Eder Militao had also suffered a similar injury earlier.

But unlike Militao, Alaba's journey back has been longer, more arduous, and still has no clear end in sight.

Alaba underwent surgery, and then more surgery. Another knee "cleaning" procedure took place during his recovery, indicating that his body wasn't responding as expected.

As a result, throughout the entire 2025/26 season, Alaba only played a mere 143 minutes for Real Madrid. That number is far too small compared to the class and status of a player who was once a key figure at Bayern Munich, having brought the Champions League, La Liga, and numerous other major titles to the Spanish royal club.

Alaba has practically "disappeared" in Madrid.

The irony is that while Alaba virtually "disappeared" in Madrid, he found his rhythm in football with the national team. With Austria, Alaba played 301 minutes, more than double the time he spent in the white shirt.

The former Bayern Munich star started most of the matches, wore the captain's armband, commanded the defense, and was the spiritual center of the team led by Ralf Rangnick. For the Austrian national football team, Alaba was not a question mark, but a pillar of support.

This contrast reveals an unavoidable reality: Real Madrid cannot currently rely on Alaba. Not because of his technical ability, but because of his physical condition.

Since Xabi Alonso took over the team, Alaba has only played in four matches. Two of those were just a few minutes at the end, as a stopgap measure. He played a full match in the Champions League, then left the field at halftime due to a calf injury. Since mid-October, he has been completely absent.

Alaba lost himself.

A fit Alaba was once a crucial tactical link under Carlo Ancelotti. He played as a left-sided center-back, was good at escaping pressure, initiated attacks from the back, and brought balance to the defense.

With Xabi Alonso, that value remains, in theory. But top-level football doesn't operate on memory. It requires a healthy body, consistent performance, and absolute reliability.

As 2026 approaches, Alaba faces another reality: his contract with Real Madrid expires at the end of June. He is likely to leave Bernabeu after five seasons, with a vast collection of titles but an incomplete ending.

What remains for Alaba now is not to prove his worth at Madrid, but to keep his body in good enough shape to enter the World Cup with the Austrian national team.

For Alaba, the national team is a rare "oasis" after two challenging years. There, he remains the leader, is still trusted, and can still play football in his familiar style.

At Real Madrid, his story shifted from being the center of tactical attention to a major question mark regarding his fitness and time. And in top-level football, time rarely waits for anyone.

Source: https://znews.vn/kho-hieu-voi-alaba-post1615155.html