BEVERLY HILLS, February 16, (THEWILL) – Austrian defender David Alaba has confirmed his dropping from German and World champions Bayern Munich when at the expiration of his contract at the end of the 2020/2021 campaign.
Alaba came through the youth ranks at Bayern and has been with the Bundesliga giants for 13 richly rewarding years.
That is coming to an end as the 28-year-old announced his decision at a news conference on Tuesday, stopping short of revealing where he was headed to next. But, there has not been a shortage of suitors vying to get the defender’s signature.
He has most heavily been linked with a switch to Real Madrid, but there are interests from Premier League giants Liverpool in need of defensive reinforcements, just as Manchester City and Chelsea have also demonstrated willingness to contract the Austrian.
At the news conference, Alaba said: “I’ve decided for me personally to do something new after this season. I will leave the club and it was not an easy decision, it was very difficult because I have been here for 13 years and I really identify with this club, it’s close to my heart and I’m very grateful to the club for everything.
“I have not decided which club I’m going to join yet. This will happen in the future.
“In the 13 years I experienced incredibly beautiful moments, the treble in 2013, my debut, the treble last season. These are all moments that are very difficult to describe.”
Alaba added: “The 13 years behind me are difficult to summarise in words. It’s been an incredible, beautiful and intense time and I’m really grateful.”
He made his debut in a DFB-Pokal Cup meeting with Greuther Furth in February 2010. That debut made him the club’s youngest player in history at the time. The memorable occasion was capped by the sensation of setting up a goal for club French legend Franck Ribery within a minute of being subbed on.
Alaba’s 17 years, seven months and 18 days old debut has now been upstaged by the record of new kid Jamal Musiala, the current club youngest debutant.
The defender notched up 415 appearances for the Bavarian juggernauts. He found the back of the net 33 times while registering 44 assists in all competitions in the club.
In an incredibly productive career in Germany, Alaba racked up 24 trophies, which included lifting the Bundesliga trophy nine times and winning the Champions League twice – both of those European successes forming part of remarkable trebles, a beautiful way to end his story at the Munich club.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
