Austrian defender of Nigerian descent David Alaba has made his return to the Real Madrid squad for the upcoming Spanish Supercopa semifinal against Mallorca after a lengthy recovery from injury.
The club confirmed on Tuesday that the defender has rejoined training, marking a significant milestone following a year-long absence due to a serious knee injury.
In December 2023, Alaba suffered a tear to his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left leg, along with meniscus damage, which kept him sidelined for the entire year.
Although he is back in the squad, Alaba is not expected to participate in competitive matches until later in January.
Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti provided an optimistic outlook, stating, “I think he will start playing [training] matches next week. Around January 20, he will be able to play matches. These will help us as well.”
Since joining Real Madrid from Bayern Munich in 2021, Alaba has enjoyed success, including winning the Champions League in his first season.
As Los Blancos prepare to face Mallorca on Thursday, the other semifinal will feature Barcelona against Athletic Club on Wednesday.
