Alaba before debut! Udinese coach raves about ÖFB star

Is David Alaba on the verge of his debut for Udinese Calcio?

The 34-year-old ÖFB star could make his first appearance for his new club on Monday evening (from 8:45 PM in the LIVE ticker>>>) in the away game against FC Turin.

After his departure from Real Madrid, Alaba moved to Italy on a free transfer at the end of September.

Alaba played his last competitive match on July 2nd at the World Cup against Spain. Now, the former Real Madrid star could take to the pitch in Serie A for the first time.

Udinese coach Kosta Runjaic is certainly thrilled with his prominent new signing ahead of the match against FC Turin.

Planned as a Centre-Back

"We currently see him as a centre-back. He can play all three positions in the back three," explains the 55-year-old according to "Tuttomercatoweb".

The German-Austrian coach is particularly impressed by the Austrian's playing and tactical qualities.

"He is good on the ball, plays many vertical passes, communicates a lot with his teammates, and gives us the defensive organization we've been lacking a bit," raves Runjaic.

The coach also highlights Alaba's game intelligence: "He can read games and make the right decisions. There's not much more to say about that."

Not Yet Fully Fit

However, after his prolonged break from competitive matches, the ÖFB legionnaire is not yet at full fitness.

Runjaic therefore emphasizes that Alaba currently does not have the physical condition for a full 90-minute appearance.

The Udinese coach does not want to take any unnecessary risks with the four-time Champions League winner, as the veteran is expected to be available to the club for the entire season.

Whether Alaba will actually start against Torino or initially take a seat on the bench remains to be seen.