Real Madrid are reportedly preparing to sell experienced defender David Alaba during this summer's transfer window.
The 32-year-old made the move to the reigning European and Spanish champions on a free transfer in July 2021 following the expiration of his contract with German giants Bayern Munich.
Alaba has featured on 116 occasions for Los Blancos in all competitions, scoring five times and registering nine assists in the process, including 14 outings during the 2024-25 campaign.
The Austria international missed the first half of the season with a serious knee injury, returning to action in the middle of January, but he has struggled to reach his full fitness following a lengthy absence.
Alaba will not play again this season, having suffered a meniscus injury in his left knee, but there is a chance that he will be back on the field for the Club World Cup, which begins in the middle of June.
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Real Madrid 'ready to sell' Alaba this summer
According to Estadio Deportivo, Real Madrid wants to sell the Austrian this summer, mainly due to his substantial salary, which is the second-highest at Bernabeu behind Kylian Mbappe.
The report claims that Los Blancos have ongoing concerns when it comes to Alaba's fitness, and senior figures at the club believe that now is the right time to sell him, as his contract is due to expire in June 2026.
Alaba's severe knee injury, which he suffered in December 2023, has had a huge impact on his career, as he spent more than a year on the sidelines before returning to the field in the early stages of 2025.
There is a chance that the defender has played his last match for Real Madrid, although it is not impossible for him to feature at the Club World Cup, before leaving the capital giants in July.
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Could Alaba move to Saudi Arabia?
Alaba is believed to collect in the region of £370,000 a week at Real Madrid, so it is not difficult to understand why the club are keen to move him on, and he would not receive that salary, or close to it, at another European club.
As a result, a move to the Saudi Pro League makes a lot of sense, as he would be able to command a serious salary, potentially close to the one that he currently collects in the Spanish capital.
Real Madrid are bidding to improve their defence this summer, with Lucas Vazquez also potentially moving on, and a departure for Alaba looks probable considering his recent struggles at Bernabeu.
Matt Law
