Real Madrid are plotting an ambitious summer move to land FC Bayern defender David Alaba, who has been identified as a potential Marcelo replacement.
According to Le10Sport, Real Madrid are apparently preparing life without Marcelo and have thus set their sights on David Alaba. The FC Bayern left-back is being targeted as a youngster alternative for the ageing Brazilian, who has lost his importance in the Zinedine Zidane’s first-team.
Marcelo has long been linked with a move to Juventus, where he could reunite with close friend and former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo. However, a move to Major League Soccer could also be a possibility for the Brazilian.
Coming back to Alaba, he was recently courted by Chelsea in the January transfer window. The Austrian is not a shock target at all, for Real Madrid as he is already regarded as one of the best left-backs in world football.
What has made Alaba such a precious commodity in the transfer market is his consistency. Since his breakout during the 2011/12 campaign, the defender has performed responsibility, notably helping Bayern Munich win six back to back Bundesliga titles as well as the UEFA Champions League in 2013.
Since being promoted to the first-team in 2010, Alaba has made a whopping 372 competitive appearances for the Bavarians, becoming one of the most experienced left-backs in world football.
However, the Austrian international has experienced a slight change in his role at FC Bayern this season. The club’s constant injury problems have forced manager Hansi Flick to utilise him as a centre-back.
With the likes of Niklas Sule and Lucas Hernandez missing a chunk of the campaign due to injury, Alaba has had to fill in at centre-back alongside Jerome Boateng. As a result, only four of his 20 league appearances have come at his preferred left-back position this campaign.
Alaba has not disappointed in his new role – making him an even more attractive target for Real Madrid. The Spanish giants have really struggled in the defensive unit this season, often appearing overreliant on the services of Raphael Varane and the ageing Sergio Ramos.
Marcelo also appears to have an uncertain future at the club and at the age of 32, it won’t be surprising to see Los Blancos offloading the Brazilian in the summer. It could make way for Alaba, who is more than likely to become the first-choice left-back for Real Madrid despite the presence of Ferland Mendy.
However, it is unlikely Bayern would want to let go of one of their old guards by cashing in on Alaba in the summer. Despite Alphonso Davies’ rapid rise to prominence, the Austrian remains an asset for the Bavarian backline, mainly due to his experience as well as versatility.
The Bundesliga giants are set to undergo a major defensive overhaul and will be well aware of the fact that the departure of Alaba could create new problems for the side. Hence, Real Madrid might have to look elsewhere in their search for a possible replacement for Marcelo.
