David Alaba is back on the pitch, back in form, and back in the headlines. After Austria’s 2-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Real Madrid defender addressed the press to reflect on his long-awaited return from injury, his national team’s ambitions, and ongoing speculation about his future in Spain.
Alaba, who has just one year remaining on his Real Madrid contract, was linked with a summer move away from the Bernabéu this summer. But the Austrian was quick to shut down those stories.
“I’ve been
in the football world long enough; rumors are part of the game,” Alaba said during Austria’s national team camp. “Fortunately, I don’t dwell on these things for long. I often laugh about it because none of it is true — they’re all lies.”
Despite his dismissal of transfer chatter, Alaba is not expected to renew with Real Madrid when his contract expires in June. For now, though, his focus is firmly on regaining rhythm after a nightmare injury spell.
It had been 136 days since Alaba last featured in an official match when he stepped onto the pitch for Austria earlier this week. The cruciate ligament tear that sidelined him for 384 days — forcing him to miss 73 matches for club and country — is finally behind him.
He marked his return on September 6 in a 1-0 victory over Cyprus, playing 70 minutes, completing more passes than any other player on the pitch (82), and showing composure in possession. Three days later, he went a step further, starting again and logging 79 minutes in Austria’s crucial 2-1 win over Bosnia.
“We kept our cool at times when emotions could have gone differently,” Alaba reflected after the match.
Once again, he topped the passing charts with 75 completed passes, while also contributing defensively with three clearances, a blocked shot, and key interventions at the back.
Austria Vienna’s Aleksandar Dragovic, a close friend and former teammate, also provided insight into Alaba’s mindset.
“I recently spoke to David on the phone. The good news: he told me he’s fitter than ever since his cruciate ligament tear. I was delighted with the news as a friend, but also for the national team. All of Austria dreams of the World Cup. Twenty-eight years of waiting is enough.”
Austria’s win leaves them on the brink of qualification for the 2026 World Cup, something Alaba views as the pinnacle of his international career.
“In terms of quality, potential, and depth, we are perhaps the best national team that has ever existed,” Alaba said. “It’s a big dream, not just for me, but for the entire country, and we’re going to do everything we can to achieve it.”
