Real Madrid Defeat Liverpool, PSG To Sign 'Versatile' Defender

Bayern Munich’s David Alaba is set to move to Real Madrid on a four-year contract at the end of the 2020-21 campaign.

The 28-year-old defender, who has been associated with Bayern Munich for 13 years now, will join the La Liga champions on a free transfer, Spanish publication Marca reported.

Alaba is expected to sign the deal with Real Madrid in the next few weeks after clearing the medical test. He is going to earn nearly $13 million a year at Los Blancos.

Alaba has been free to hold talks with other clubs since Jan. 1 and Real Madrid were quick to act. While Alaba was being chased by the likes of Liverpool FC, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), and Manchester City, the Austrian chose to join Real Madrid, a club he had always wanted to play for.

It is understood that Real Madrid considered Pau Torres of Villarreal as well as Seville duo of Jules Kounde and Diego Carlos as alternatives at center-back before finally deciding that Austrian national Alaba would be worth the investment.

Having made 408 competitive appearances for Bayern Munich since his first-team debut in 2009, Alaba has scored 32 goals and provided 49 assists, and has been a part of 25 titles, including two Champions League and nine Bundesliga trophies. The Austrian defender is considered one of the best in Europe at present for being versatile and competitive. His physique and good technique come as an added advantage.

Bayern have made three separate contract extension offers but Alaba rejected it all as he wanted a new challenge, The Guardian reported. Alaba also felt he was not valued enough by the German champions. His deal with Real Madrid is not directly connected to Sergio Ramos’ future at Santiago Bernabeu. The Real Madrid skipper is still negotiating with Real Madrid over a contract extension.