Udinese have confirmed that defender David Alaba has suffered a muscular strain in his right calf, an injury sustained immediately after his first start for the Serie A club. The setback means the Austrian international will miss Udinese’s upcoming league fixture against AC Milan and is also likely to be unavailable for the subsequent match against Parma.
Alaba’s Udinese Journey So Far
Alaba joined Udinese on a free transfer at the end of September, following the expiry of his contract with Real Madrid. His debut for the club came off the bench during Udinese’s 2-1 defeat to Torino. He then earned his first place in the starting XI for Sunday’s Serie A clash against Lecce, a match Udinese ultimately lost 3-0.
The defender was withdrawn at half-time during the Lecce game, prompting concerns that have now been confirmed by the club. Udinese released a statement confirming the muscular strain and stating that Alaba has already commenced his rehabilitation process. The club indicated that his condition would be evaluated weekly.
Injury Impact and Recovery Timeline
While Udinese has not provided a specific recovery timeframe, reports suggest that Alaba could be sidelined until the next international break, which is scheduled to begin on November 9. This timeline would see him miss crucial league encounters as Udinese navigates the early stages of the Serie A season.
The absence of the experienced defender will be a blow for Udinese, who will be keen to integrate Alaba fully into their squad after his recent arrival. His rehabilitation will be closely monitored as the club hopes for his swift return to action.