Alaba and Real Madrid: Done deal - 7M sport

Alaba and Real Madrid: Done deal



Posted Tuesday, January 19, 2021 by Marca.com

Alaba and Real Madrid: Done deal

Real Madrid have reached an agreement with David Alaba, who becomes Los Blancos first signing for next season.

The Bayern Munich defender will join the Spanish giants when his contract with the Bavarian club comes to an end on June 30.

He has agreed a four-year deal with a salary close to 11 million euros per year in an offer made at the club's offices in Valdebebas, as MARCA reported on January 2.

The Austrian has been free to negotiate since January 1 and Real Madrid haven't wasted a second in bringing in the European champion to seal a deal as quickly as possible. The player has even already undergone a medical for his future club.

The 28-year-old was chased by some of Europe's biggest clubs, with Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool and Chelsea all registering an interest with agent Pini Zahavi. Alaba had already shown his interest in playing in LaLiga Santander and after 10 seasons with Bayern, was not afraid to run down his contract in Germany.

Bayern made three offers to Alaba in the past few months, but club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge admitted in November that talks were over.

"We had a lot of conversations with his agent, there was a final meeting and a proposal with a deadline in October, our offer wasn't accepted and our president withdrew it," Rummenigge explained.

"We did all we could to reach an agreement, he just had to accept, but it didn't work out."

From that point on, Bayern resigned to losing their versatile defender and allowed him to negotiate with other clubs.

Undervalued

Many players who come through the youth ranks feel undervalued at Bayern, and that was the case with Alaba, who has only spent six months away from Munich during a loan spell with Hoffenheim in 2011.

After winning all there is to win last season, he decided to accept the offer from Real Madrid, which matched a previous offer made only a few seasons ago.

The Spanish side have followed him closely since then, tracking him as he didn't renew his contract in Germany.

In Madrid, signing Alaba for free is a bargain which allows them to afford his wages despite their tight economic restrictions to balance the books since the pandemic began.

With 408 games, 32 goals and 49 assists helping Bayern to win 25 titles, including two Champions League wins and nine Bundesligas, Alaba is rated as one of the best defenders in Europe.

He is physically powerful, with good technique on the ball and able to play centrally, on the left or even in midfield.

Strategic signing

Real Madrid have been following the market for central defenders for some time, including Pau Torres of Villarreal and Jules Kounde and Diego Carlos from Sevilla.

With Sergio Ramos aged 34 and facing uncertainty over his future, waiting to see if he accepts an offer of one season on 13 million euros net, or two seasons at 10 percent less.

It makes Alaba a key signing, particularly with Raphael Varane's contract up in June 2022, alongside Nacho Fernandez.

The 50 million euros spent on Eder Militao in 2019 are yet to be justified, but point towards investment in a proven player like Alaba.

These motives made Alaba a top priority for the club to strengthen in central defence and also on the left where Marcelo is on the decline and only Ferland Mendy provides cover.



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