Bundesliga News

Alaba's wage demands a cause for concern

By Akhil Fisher   @akhil_fisher

Although a free transfer may be on cards for top European clubs, Alaba's salary expectations will prove to be problematic.
Lukas Klostermann, David Alaba and Tyler Adams.
Lukas Klostermann, David Alaba and Tyler Adams.Photo: GEPA Pictures/Ulrich Gamel
With David Alaba now securing the freedom (from Jan 1, 2021) to negotiate with other clubs after entering the final six months on his contract with Bayern Munich, it is still not clear which European club would have the pleasure of acquiring the Austrian’s services in the back four. Still at the peak of his prime, Alaba was instrumental in helping Bayern win an unrivalled treble last season.


The versatile center-back cum full-back will be a free agent from July 1, 2021. With top clubs vying for his signature, Real Madrid seem to be in pole position as his next destination. Alaba is one of the most exciting prospects this transfer window, and the chance to sign him on a free transfer is something no club would want to miss out on.

However, there is a hitch. The Austrian has reportedly laid out a wage demand that seems to be higher than Sergio Ramos’ current package of €12 million ($15m/£11m) a season. Madrid are ready to establish a four year contract amounting to €10 million per year, but it looks like player and his representatives are not the ones to back down.

Bayern themselves have been in a war of words with Alaba’s agent, Pini Zahavi. Back in September, former Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness, labelled Zahavi as a ‘greedy piranha’ and blamed him over the lack of agreement for extending Alaba’s contract.

According to Goal.com, he has reportedly demanded a salary structure of thirteen million euros net per year. His wage demand will make him the sole top earner – in a team with the likes of Karim Benzema, Eden Hazard, Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos. It may well be worth it for Alaba to mellow down his wage expectations if he foresees a future at Real Madrid.

Eternal rivals Barcelona were one of the first clubs to back out after his excessive wage demands proved too hot to handle. If money is the only matter, Alaba will not face a shortage of suitors, with the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and PSG ready to jump at the opportunity.


Los Blancos’ legendary defender Sergio Ramos himself enters the final six months of his contract and he’s still awaiting a contract extension offer. It has been suggested that he’s looking for new challenges and opportunities away from the Spanish capital, in the midst of transfer rumors to the English Premier League.

According to a report from El Confidencial, Real Madrid’s pursuit of Alaba is nothing but a cover to pressurize Ramos’ contract renewal. It is certainly a possibility as retaining Ramos at the Bernabeu should be Madrid’s number one priority. While a move for Ramos looks unlikely, it remains to be seen how Alaba’s potential transfer may affect Madrid’s transfer strategies.

One thing is for sure: if the transfer takes effect between the Austrian and the Spanish giants, either of the party will end up cutting some slack.


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