Alaba reacts to revelations his 'dream' was to play for Barca
Martin Macdonald
- 7 Oct 2021 07:40 CDT
- 5 min read
David Alaba has responded to claims that it was previously his dream to play for Barcelona before making the move to Real Madrid in the summer.
The Austrian had been with Bayern Munich for over a decade and won everything possible on multiple occasions with the club, including 10 Bundesliga titles and two Champions League titles.
Throughout the 2020/21 season, however, negotiations broke down over a new contract, which resulted in a departure as a free agent in July.
Bayern would claim that Alaba wanted to be on the same pay grade as the likes of Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer and Robert Lewandowski.
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Real Madrid subsequently signed him on a free transfer.
Bayern director Uli Hoeness would create an awkward situation for Alaba a few months later, though, claiming Barcelona was actually his dream move, while poking fun at the financial situation at Camp Nou.
“David Alaba once told me: 'My dream is still to play in Barcelona one day.'
"Then I said to him: 'Do you want to negotiate with the president or with the insolvency administrator?'" Hoeness told Bayern1.
When asked about his supposed dream move, Alaba laughed before saying the conversation with Hoeness didn't quite go like that.
“I can actually remember the conversation. It was a bit different, not like he said it was," Alaba said while on international duty with Austria.
Alaba's start at Real Madrid
When asked about his start at Real Madrid, Alaba was positive in his response, saying:
“My first impression after the first few weeks and months is very positive. I am happy to be there. I really enjoy getting to know a new culture. To play in another country and take on new challenges."
Alaba has made a positive start to his career in the Spanish capital as he has played every single minute possible, starting seven matches in La Liga and the two Champions League encounters versus Inter and Sheriff.
His opening months at the club have been slightly disrupted by a switch of position though as he has been asked to play at both centre-back and left-back due to the injuries to Ferland Mendy and Marcelo.
In his seven league appearances, he has recorded two assists against Alaves and Mallorca.
