If you feel like you don't know much about David Alaba's recovery, you're not alone. Even those closest to the player are in the dark, not out of neglect but by design. Alaba is living in the moment, working steadily each day without pressure or deadlines. His approach is deliberate—short, firm steps toward a full recovery, no matter how long it takes. The priority is achieving a 200% return, even if it means waiting longer.

The severity of Alaba's injury is the key issue here. He tore his cruciate ligament, with additional damage to his meniscus and some tendons, making the situation far worse than many might think. Questions linger about how he'll return and when, but optimism prevails. Alaba's left knee injury occurred on December 17, 2023, during a match against Villarreal. The worst fears were confirmed: an affected meniscus, unlike Militao's cleaner tear, and tendon damage. Alaba chose to undergo surgery in Innsbruck with Dr. Christian Fink, a renowned specialist.

Real Madrid and Alaba are taking a cautious approach. No deadlines, no pressure—just a focus on daily work and a full recovery. For a 32-year-old player, a relapse would be devastating. Club insiders suggest Alaba might return by November, but nothing is set in stone. If he needs more time, he'll get it.

This raises two key questions. First, can a player with such a severe injury ever return to his former self? The club is hopeful, but concerns are inevitable. And second, when will Ancelotti be able to rely on him again? The current estimate is November, but with over 270 days out of action, there's no certainty. Madrid knows they need center-backs, but Alaba is a unique case—his return remains an open question.

********************************************************

You can now download the Madridista News App for free on the Apple Store and Google Play.

You can follow us on Facebook here.

You can follow us on X (Twitter) here.                                                                    

You can follow us on Instagram here.

You can subscribe to our YouTube channel here.

You can follow us on Telegram here.

You can follow us on TikTok here.

You can join our WhatsApp channel here.