David Alaba has officially inked a one-year deal with Udinese, taking his medicals in Rome on Wednesday and putting pen to paper on Thursday, as reported by Messaggero Veneto. The 34-year-old free agent, who spent the summer searching for a new club after Real Madrid didn’t renew his contract, made it clear he wished to move to Italy for the final act of his career. It’s a move that certainly raises eyebrows, especially after a summer where bigger clubs passed on the veteran defender.
The Big Names Who Said “No Thanks” to a Champion
You read that right: Udinese is getting a player who amassed 131 appearances over five years with Los Galacticos, contributing to a staggering 11 trophies, including two UEFA Champions League titles. Before that, he had a long, successful run at Bayern Munich. So why was he a free agent, and why did Udinese “gladly seize the opportunity” when others didn’t? Simple: age and injuries. Juventus, Milan, and Inter all passed on Alaba over the summer, citing his recent injury woes and age as major concerns. Lazio weighed bringing in the Austrian talisman too, but ultimately preferred Diogo Leite, while Atalanta elected not to follow up on their initial interest. Even the Old Lady, Juventus, thought about it for a bit before moving on. It really makes you wonder what these bigger clubs are thinking, letting that kind of pedigree slip through their fingers.
Udinese’s Bold Play and Their History of Veteran Bets
Udinese’s decision to bring in Alaba makes a lot more sense when you look at their own situation. They’ve had some glaring issues in the back already this season, conceding 11 goals in their first five matches. That kind of defensive vulnerability screams for an experienced leader, and Alaba brings exactly that, if he can stay healthy. Plus, Udinese isn’t exactly new to this kind of acquisition. La Gazzetta dello Sport reminds us they’ve brought in high-profile veterans before, with solid results. Think back to Franco Causio after he left Juventus in 1981, Zico in 1983, Daniel Bertoni and Francesco Graziani in 1986, Andrea Carnevale in 1993, and Carsten Jancker in 2002. More recently, they’ve onboarded Gerard Deulofeu and Florian Thauvin, who both delivered. It looks like Udinese is sticking to a proven formula here.
So, the big question is, how much does David Alaba have left in the tank? Can he stay healthy enough to shore up that shaky Udinese defense? If he can, this one-year deal could prove to be one of the most impactful signings in Serie A, showing all those bigger sides exactly what they missed out on.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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