Real Madrid has made a final decision about Rudiger and Alaba
Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 29.07.25. | 19:56
Two experienced defenders are getting close to Los Blancos' exit doors
They proved to be major signings and played key roles in winning the most prestigious trophies - La Liga and the Champions League - but Real Madrid has never been a fan of keeping too many players in their 30s.
That's why both David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger are expected to part ways with the club after the end of the season. According to AS, Rudiger could be offered a one-year extension, but only if he remains healthy and continues to contribute on the pitch.
As for the Austrian defender, the situation appears more definitive. AS reports that Alaba is free to find a new club before the end of the current transfer window. Should he stay, he will play out the final year of his contract and leave on a free transfer at the end of the season, just as he arrived from Bayern Munich four years ago.
Alaba suffered a major setback with a serious knee injury that kept him sidelined for over a year, and his high salary isn't doing him any favors either. Since he joined Madrid on a free transfer, club president Florentino Perez offered him a lucrative package: an annual salary of €10.5 million, a signing bonus of €17.7 million, a €5.2 million commission for his agent Pini Zahavi, and another €6.3 million for his father, George Alaba.
It wasn't money wasted - Alaba has made over 100 appearances for Los Blancos, winning two Champions League titles, two La Liga titles, and several other trophies. Until he tore his ACL in December 2023, he was a regular starter. However, his return to training marked the beginning of recurring minor injuries, and with his 33rd birthday recently behind him, the club has little interest in extending his stay. Alaba has already been informed he is free to leave in the ongoing transfer window, but his representatives have made it clear he intends to stay until the end of his deal.
Rudiger's situation is somewhat different. Real Madrid is pleased with his performances last season, yet concerns remain due to ongoing knee issues. He had to miss games on two occasions in 2025, and as such, any discussions about a contract renewal will depend entirely on his physical condition. Talks won't begin until the final stages of the upcoming season.
