Looking back at the summer transfer window, it’s safe to say that the signing of David Alaba didn’t fully get the recognition that it deserved. Maybe it’s because Real Madrid signed the Austrian early during the window on a free transfer with the signing being all but confirmed in April or because of the high wages or possibly because before and after the signing was confirmed, we were too busy following the departures of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane while also looking forward to possibly signing Kylian Mbappe. Regardless of the reason, Alaba has already shown that he’s made for Real Madrid and his signing was not only a great move by the club but also an extremely necessary one.
Alaba possesses a lot of quality and he has shown that during his time at Bayern Munich yet many were questioning whether he still has what it takes to turn over a new page in his career and prove it at another massive club with arguably more demands than anywhere else. In his short Real Madrid career, he has already proven that not only does he have the abilities to succeed at the club, but he also has the hunger and determination to make it a memorable journey.
Leadership
With the departure of Sergio Ramos, the club found itself in a very strange position where it was missing a leader. Not only did they lose their captain but they lost a player who motivated everyone by just being on the pitch and someone who would fight until the very end while giving everything he has on the pitch. More importantly, Real Madrid was missing a leader at the back to take control of the defense and keep everything organized.
Real Madrid had good defenders, but they were missing that one player that can help them keep their heads held high in times of adversity yet in came David Alaba. Amongst all the doubt and questions, Alaba remained quiet and focused on preparing himself for a new season with new teammates in a new country. He’s smart and he knew that his past at Bayern Munich meant nothing as he will need to do his talking on the pitch and that’s exactly what he did.
Since day one, David Alaba showed his quality whether it was with his abilities or by being the leader at the back. He’s the most experienced player in our defense and has taken that opportunity to be a leader and a teacher to those around him. He goes through his work quietly and professionally but he’s an absolute star on the pitch and has already won the hearts of many Madridistas who doubted that his signing would be a positive one for the club.
Pinpoint Passing
One of Alaba’s biggest assets that we haven’t seen from previous defenders at Real Madrid is his ability to pass the ball long with incredible accuracy. His passing opens up the play and catches the opponents off-guard. We saw that throughout all the matches he has played but it was more evident in Real Madrid’s match when they took on Mallorca as he was given the space required to look for the passes forward and he did so magnificently.
He’s a defender with the mind of a midfielder when it comes to reading the game and choosing the right pass. This is precisely why he can also play as a midfielder if required during the course of the campaign.
During the first few matches, the Austrian was placed at left-back and he looked like a natural as he’s already used to moving the ball forward but this time, we saw him up front a lot and he was able to grab two assists.
As a central defender, not too much has changed. He is still bringing the ball forward but he’s able to launch the ball forward usually to the wingers and it completely opens up the midfield and gives players such as Vinicius Junior or Karim Benzema a chance to use their speed and cause problems for the opposition defense. This has given Ancelotti a lot to work with as it adds another element to the game especially when they need the game to be played at a quicker pace.
Passion
For a player to be passionate about the club he represents is quite underrated. At 29-years-old, Alaba has won it all with Bayern Munich and decided to leave his comfort zone in order to challenge himself once again and he chose to do it at Real Madrid. Since his arrival, it’s very easy to see how passionate he is for the club and to prove himself once again. When Real Madrid score, he’s one of the first to celebrate, and when they concede, he’s one of the first to rally the team and ensure that they all keep their heads held high. To a certain extent, he is to our defense what Karim Benzema is to the forwards.
David Alaba knows how hard he needs to work in order to keep the Real Madrid fans on his side and he knows the challenge ahead of him. Even with the departures of Sergio Ramos to PSG and Raphael Varane to Manchester United which he didn’t expect when he arrived at the club, that didn’t deter him from his mission and he’s slowly but surely on course to creating a new memorable partnership for the club alongside Eder Militao. Militao looks more assured when Alaba is there with him and that alone speaks volumes to what the Austria captain brings to the table.
Make no mistake about it – David Alaba was a magnificent signing and we need to give credit to the club for moving fast last season to ensure that they get the player. Real Madrid won’t be where they are now in the league (it’s still early clearly) without Alaba being part of their main starting eleven and things can only improve from here.
The focus in the summer may have been on Kylian Mbappe and Eduardo Camavinga but nothing should be taken away from the incredible signing of David Alaba.