Episode 3 of David Alaba’s injury history with Real Madrid: suffering a cruciate ligament rupture and out for the rest of the season, the defender could undergo surgery at Bayern Munich, his former team.
According to information released by a member of the Bavarian club’s administration on Tuesday, the offer has been made, and the situation adds a special dimension to the world of football. Injured in Sunday’s La Liga match against Villarreal (a 4-1 win for Los Merengues), the Austrian defender left the field after just 35 minutes, joining team-mates Eder Militao and Thibaut Courtois in need of surgery.
Bayern Munich react to David Alaba’s injury
However, the operation is not solely the responsibility of the Merengue club, which Alaba joined in 2021 from the Allianz Arena. Bayern Munich have expressed their willingness to provide their former player (from 2010 to 2021) with a top-quality doctor to carry out the operation on the 31-year-old defender.
Uli Hoeneß, former chairman and current member of the Bayern Munich board, told Servus TV: “I tried to contact him today, but unfortunately I wasn’t able to. We at FC Bayern will see to it that he is operated on in Innsbruck by a doctor we have great confidence in.
The classy gesture not only shows the German club’s appreciation for its former player, but also the excellent relationship it enjoys with Real Madrid. Pending the best possible outcome for Alaba, Real Madrid have already identified four potential replacements for him in the upcoming winter transfer window.
Carlo Ancelotti’s defensive options are becoming increasingly complex, prompting the Spanish club to explore a number of options during the winter transfer window.
David Alaba injured, Real Madrid look for reinforcements
One of the first targets being considered by the Spanish club is Giorgio Scalvini. The 20-year-old Italian currently plays for Atalanta Bergamo and is attracting interest from clubs such as PSG and Bayern Munich. According to AS, a bid of at least €50 million is required to bring him to the Spanish capital.
One player could follow in Cristiano Ronaldo’s footsteps, but by taking an intermediate step. According to Spanish media outlet AS, Sporting CP’s young centre-back Inacio (22) could also be of interest to Real Madrid as a replacement for the Austrian defender. The Portuguese international, a mainstay of Roberto Martinez’s team, has also expressed a desire to play for the Madrid club. He could even leave Manchester United, who are also interested. However, convincing Cristiano Ronaldo’s former club to release Inacio will require an investment of at least €60 million.
A more expensive option for Real Madrid would be Antonio Silva. The Portuguese international plays for Benfica Lisbon and, at the age of 20, represents a young option. However, he has a €100m release clause, according to AS, which makes his arrival at the Spanish club more complex. Nevertheless, he remains one of the priorities of the Spanish club’s sporting directorate.
Another potential central defender, revealed by AS, is Willian Pacho. The Ecuadorian international currently plays for Eintracht Frankfurt and could also be called upon to replace the injured defender at the heart of Madrid’s defence. This is the cheapest option, as Pacho’s services would cost €40 million.
Among the younger players at the Merengue club, Marvel was also approached. However, the Academy defender has also suffered a muscle injury and will be out of the team for 4 months.
