Bild: Alaba's injury woes could prematurely end Udinese career

Alaba had initially hoped to reinvigorate his career in Serie A during its later stages, but less than two months after joining Udinese, speculation has already begun that his Italian journey might end prematurely.

The defender did not renew his contract with Real Madrid after five years and only found a new club at the end of September, signing a one-year deal with Udinese. However, his start has been far from ideal.

On October 12, Alaba made his debut, coming on as a substitute in the 72nd minute in an away match against Torino, which his team ultimately lost 2-1. A week later, the Austrian made his first start at home against Lecce, but Udinese performed poorly, trailing 2-0 at halftime. The 55-year-old coach Kosta Runjaic made three substitutions at halftime, including Alaba.

Since then, the center-back has been sidelined with a calf muscle injury. This adds another painful chapter to Alaba's career, which has been plagued by several serious injuries. He tore his cruciate ligament in December 2023, sidelining him for over a year; shortly after returning in April 2025, he tore his meniscus, requiring another three months out. In addition, he has suffered multiple muscle injuries, with his calf always being a problem area, and it is again the case now.

Alaba plans to use the international break for recovery training, aiming to return from injury again and get back on the field as soon as possible.