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Udinese has secured the signing of David Alaba, who was a free agent after his contract with Real Madrid expired last season.
The confirmation of the deal came via a social media post from the Italian club, featuring a chair, a clear nod to the Austrian player's iconic celebration during his farewell from the Bernabéu.
The Udine club's management made the decision in response to the team's fragile defensive performance at the start of the season. Conceding eleven goals in just five games, Kosta Runjaic's side already boasts the fourth-worst defense in Serie A, surpassed only by Venezia (13), Fiorentina, and Monza (both with 12).
The Austrian international, who joined the Merengues in 2021 after a long career at Bayern, had previously been linked with other Italian clubs. Inter showed interest over the summer, and more recently Lazio considered his acquisition, but it was Udinese who accelerated the process and secured the services of the 34-year-old defender.
Key free transfers this summer:
Alaba joins a list of free transfers since the start of the summer, as you can see in the gallery above, but several top players are still without a club and can sign at any moment:
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