According to the Manchester Evening News, Manchester United have ruled out signing David Alaba.
Alaba was released by Real Madrid after last season and is currently a free agent. As a free agent, the 34-year-old can provide immediate reinforcement for teams needing center-back or left-back support.
However, Manchester United, who are looking for a new left-back to challenge Luke Shaw, will not pursue the Austrian player.
According to the Manchester Evening News, Manchester United dropped Alaba because the club believed his form had declined.
During his time at Bayern Munich, Alaba was named to the UEFA Team of the Year in 2013, 2014, and 2015. He was also named to the La Liga Team of the Season when he helped Real Madrid win the La Liga title in the 2021/22 season.
However, Alaba has been plagued by injuries in recent years, the most serious of which was a torn anterior cruciate ligament in December 2023. Over the past three seasons, Alaba's injury problems have been severe, causing him to miss a total of 109 matches for his club and country.
These injuries ultimately relegated the 34-year-old to the fringes of Real Madrid last season, where he made only 16 appearances in all competitions, including just 6 starts.
However, in the World Cup, he started and played all four of Austria's matches and captained the team into the round of 32, where they were eventually eliminated by the eventual champions, Spain.
Besides concerns about Alaba's declining physical condition, Manchester United have also set their sights on younger left-back options. Newcastle United's Lewis Hall was once at the top of United's transfer list, but the Magpies have made it clear that he will not be sold.
Barcelona's Balde and RB Leipzig's Laum were also considered as alternatives. Despite Manchester United's desire to sign a new left-back, the club failed to make any signings this summer.
This makes it crucial for Shaw to stay fit, especially after Manchester United's return to the Champions League. Last season, Shaw started all 38 of Manchester United's Premier League appearances, but his injury history suggests that was more of an exception than the norm. Due to a series of different muscle injuries, the 31-year-old only made 12 appearances for the Red Devils in the 2024/25 season, and just 15 the previous season.
So far this season, Shaw has started in all three of Manchester United’s matches, and even provided an assist in the team’s 2-2 draw against Everton last Sunday.
