Having made his name as a talented midfielder for Bayern Munich’s youth teams, David Alaba is quickly establishing himself as a key man in the dressing room of one of Europe’s biggest clubs. The Austrian impressed his team-mates with his attitude and work rate in pre-season workouts, and he has not looked back since.
A talented passer of the ball, Alaba received rave reviews for his performance against Hannover 96 in the Bayern Munich pre-season finale. The 23-year-old took his game to a new level, repeatedly demonstrating his excellence in possession. His distribution was precise, and his team-mates took full advantage of his industry.
The versatile Austrian has already captained Austria’s national team and has been included in the roster for the upcoming Euro qualifiers. Alaba’s form has not gone unnoticed by Bayern Munich coach Carlo Ancelotti, who has tipped the midfielder to follow in the footsteps of Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger. “I rate him as the next best thing to the two captains I have had before,” Ancelotti said. By the way, if you are betting on sports and want to get a bonus code, go to https://odds2win.bet/bonuses/nepal/22bet and collect your bonuses.
Style
While many midfielders can be defined by their passing or creative excellence, Alaba’s game is based on hard graft. The 23-year-old constantly looks for the ball and works hard to retain possession. He is not likely to dazzle with trickery or invention, but the Austrian’s best attribute may simply be his relentless pursuit of the game. He never gives up on a battle and will never back down from a challenge.
The hard work has not been lost on scouts, with Alaba already attracting genuine interest from abroad. Barcelona are monitoring his progress closely, while the Premier League’s biggest clubs have also taken note of his efforts. Liverpool and Arsenal have each expressed an interest in bringing the winner of the Bundesliga and the German Cup to English football. Perhaps the most exciting developments have come in the form of suggestions that Alaba could be drafted in to replace the injured David Beckham in the club’s famed famous ‘number seven’ shirt.
Intelligence
The ability to read the game quickly and understand the situation at hand is a key component of any midfielder. Alaba is highly intelligent and possesses a quick brain which he uses to his advantage. He has a good awareness of space and time, anticipating the movements of opponents and playing the ball in the right place at the right time.
Bayern Munich’s youth academy graduate is not one to mess around, either. He is a stalwart in both the midfield and at centre back, as he was quick to demonstrate when he helped his side to another record-breaking season by breaking up play and helping runners get on the ball. The former player has also stood out for his work rate, consistently demonstrating his appetite for the ball by winning back possession.
Power
While many a footballing brain can be defined by their technique and passing accuracy, Alaba’s game is about more than that. The versatile midfielder uses his power to good effect, bursting into fast moves and pinpoints shots. The Austria international is strong, and his combination of strength and speed makes him a real handful for opposing defences.
The 23-year-old is also a tenacious defender, using his ability to read the game well to shut down opposition players. He was a key figure in Bayern Munich’s historic treble in the 2016/17 season, as the team won all three major trophies including the Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal and the Champions League. Alaba continued to impress in the latter stages of the campaign, being named in the Bundesliga Team of the Year as Bayern Munich claimed a domestic double.
Alaba’s performances in 2017 earned him a call-up to the national team, where he was immediately named in the squad for the Nations League. The versatile player has since made the most of his opportunity and been a regular feature for Joachim Low’s side. He helped the team to their first-ever win against Chile in Santiago, before eventually coming on as a half-time substitute for Philipp Lahm in the 2-0 triumph over Argentina in the South American Championship. Now, with Germany aiming to retain the La Triada title, fans of the World Cup champions would love to see Alaba feature prominently.
