Real Madrid looking to offload veteran defender amid growing concerns | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s recent defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup semifinal laid bare the team’s defensive inadequacies.

So much so, coach Xabi Alonso has taken special note of Real Madrid’s defensive frailties and as such, the club could make a move for another central defender this summer.

Real Madrid have been closely linked with a move for Ibrahima Konate. The club are ideally looking to sign the Frenchman on a Bosman deal, but recent reports suggest a summer move cannot be ruled out either.

Real Madrid looking to offload David Alaba

However, before Real Madrid can bring in fresh faces to the defensive unit, the club must trim the squad by getting rid of unwanted stars.

According to AS, Real Madrid are considering facilitating David Alaba’s exit this summer in order to free up space in the squad and significantly reduce their wage bill.

What’s next for David Alaba? (Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

The Austrian defender earns around €12.5 million per season and remains one of the club’s top earners, but he has offered very little to the table in recent times.

Alaba has struggled with fitness since tearing his ACL in December 2023 against Villarreal. Despite undergoing surgery and returning to the pitch briefly in early 2025, his recurring injuries limited to him to just 14 appearances last season.

Now behind Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao, Dean Huijsen, and even Raul Asencio in the pecking order, Alaba’s future at Madrid looks increasingly uncertain.

Youngster Joan Martínez is also pushing for a first-team role and if he does succeed, Real Madrid can easily afford to offload Alaba.

However, the Austrian has shown no signs or desire to leave Real Madrid. He wants to stay at the club and fight for his place, knowing he may not receive such a lucrative package elsewhere.