David Alaba's Future: Father Confirms Career Will Continue
David Alaba is between chapters, not at the end of the book. That is the clear message from his father and adviser, George Alaba, as the former Bayern Munich and Real Madrid star weighs up his next move.
“There have been numerous enquiries. In the USA, in Europe, everywhere,” George told Austrian outlet Kronen Zeitung, underlining that his son is not short of options despite his current status as a free agent. Any talk of a quiet fade from the elite game? Brushed aside.
“It will continue, I know that. He will carry on,” he said, pushing back against fears that injuries and age had brought an early close to a glittering career.
Real exit and a rare pause
Alaba’s contract at Real Madrid expired in the summer, with the Spanish giants deciding not to extend after a stretch of long-running injury problems. For a player who has lived inside the relentless rhythm of top-level football since his teens, the break is unusual.
Now 34, the defender has been without a club since leaving the Bernabéu and is available on a free transfer. That status has drawn interest from very different corners of the football map.
- Bundesliga side Union Berlin have been credited with a loose interest.
- In Mexico, Club América have also been linked.
- Back home, the romantic option of a return to boyhood club Austria Wien remains on the table and very much alive.
A decision is coming
A resolution is not far away, according to George Alaba.
“He will announce soon what happens next. He is doing excellently,” he said, sounding anything but worried.
Austria Wien’s interest is real, and the feeling is mutual. “David has had calls. They want to, he wants to as well, but at the moment it is a little too early for him. He still has a lot he wants to do in football.”
That line matters. It suggests Alaba is not ready to treat a homecoming as a gentle wind-down. He still sees targets ahead, not just memories behind.
From Munich prodigy to Madrid royalty
Alaba’s career to this point barely needs dressing up. Between 2008 and 2021, he belonged to Bayern Munich, aside from a one-year loan spell at TSG Hoffenheim. In Munich, he grew from promising teenager into one of the most complete defenders of his generation.
The numbers tell their own story: 431 competitive appearances for Bayern in all competitions, 33 goals, 55 assists. Two Champions League titles. A stack of Bundesliga crowns. He shifted from left-back to centre-back, stepped into midfield when needed, and rarely looked out of place.
From there came the move to Real Madrid, a club where standards are unforgiving and trophies are non-negotiable. Even as injuries began to bite and his role shrank towards the end, Alaba still lifted the Champions League twice with Los Blancos, adding another layer to a career already crammed with silverware.
His last competitive club appearance came in May, in Real’s 4-2 win over Athletic Club. He has not pulled on a club shirt since, but he did feature for Austria at the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, underlining that he remains part of the national picture when fit.
What comes next?
The market knows exactly what Alaba offers: experience at the very highest level, versatility across the back line, leadership in big moments. The question is not whether someone will take him. It is which project will convince him that his ambitions and the club’s align.
Union Berlin’s interest hints at a Bundesliga return. Club América would open the door to a new continent. Austria Wien would complete a full-circle story.
His father insists the decision is close. Once Alaba chooses, we will discover whether this next chapter is about reinvention, homecoming, or one last run at the summit.
