Alaba says he is ready to start after Udinese unveiling

David Alaba said he is ready to play for Udinese after the Italian Serie A club officially presented him on Tuesday, ORF reported. The Austrian national team captain said he felt at home and believed the move was the right step for his career.

The 34-year-old joined Udinese after long spells at Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. His signing was announced on September 24. He told reporters he had started training with the team the previous week and felt able to play immediately.

Udinese general manager Franco Collavino said Alaba had come to contribute to the club’s present, not simply celebrate his past. The five-time Champions League winner is also expected to pass on his experience and professional standards to the squad.

Alaba said he had chosen Udinese after speaking with the coach and consulting friends and footballers familiar with Italy, including Luka Modric, Marko Arnautovic and Franck Ribery. He said he could play in several positions but believed he could contribute most in central defence.

Udinese have conceded 11 goals in their first five league matches and have four points, leaving them 13th. Defenders Oumar Solet and Matteo Palma have recently been sidelined by injuries. Alaba has not played a club match since the end of May.

Members of a Udinese supporters’ club in Carinthia attended the presentation. Club member Anton Achatz said ticket demand had doubled, and he expected about 1,000 fans from the Austrian region at upcoming matches, compared with a few hundred usually.

Alaba said he had already explored Udine and felt welcome at the club, adding that being closer to home was a positive part of the move.