Real Madrid suffered another heavy blow! The season is reimbursed by the 100 million yuan iron guard, and the maximum salary contract of 22.5 million yuan becomes a double-edged sword?

Real Madrid officially announced that the defensive core Alaba has a torn meniscus on the medial left knee, and is expected to be injured for 6-8 weeks. The news was like a bolt from the blue - only 17 months after the last tear of his anterior cruciate ligament on his left knee.

The serious injury made him miss the 2024 European Cup for a total of 399 days. Including injuries of all sizes, the Austrian international has been recovering for nearly two years in three years since joining Real Madrid.

In the summer window of 2021, Real Madrid signed the Bayern meritorious captain with zero transfer fee, which was regarded as "visa-free for the century." Wearing the No. 4 jersey, he quickly became the leader of the defense. Although his 5 goals and 9 assists were not impressive in 116 games, he won the Champions League and La Liga with the team. Especially in the 2022 Champions League final, he resolved the crisis many times and was called the "Defense Defensive Needle" by fans.

But the fate is ill-fated, and the cruciate ligament tear at the end of 2023 became a turning point. Although the meniscus injury this time is milder than last time, it once again exposed its fragile knee hazard.

It is worth noting that Alaba's contract with Real Madrid will expire in the summer of 2025. Currently, the annual salary before tax is 22.5 million euros, ranked second in the team (second only to Mbappe), and the contract renewal negotiations have reached a deadlock.

22.5 million euros annual salary accounts for nearly 10% of Real Madrid's salary space. If the contract renewal is renewed, it will inevitably compress the budget for signing in other places. Compared with players in the same position, Manchester City Dias' annual salary is about 12 million euros, Bayern is less than 8 million to Pamecano. Alaba's maximum salary contract is particularly dazzling in the aging and injury wave.

He was once a hero, but Real Madrid could not pay for his feelings. It is better to buy a young central defender than to raise a glass man for 22.5 million.

Alaba's injury reflects the hidden worries of Real Madrid's veteran policy in recent years - Modric and Kroos' successful contract renewal set a benchmark, but not all veterans can fight against time.

With the rise of new stars such as Bellingham and Vinicius, Real Madrid may need to make more decisive choices between feelings and reconstruction. After all, the dream of 15 Champions League championships cannot always be pressed by injuries.