La pretemporada del Real Madrid ha comenzado con una sorpresa táctica que pocos vieron venir. En el hermético amistoso disputado en Valdebebas ante el Leganés, Xabi Alonso experimentó con Alaba de mediocentro. Un rol que aún no habia desempeñado en el club blanco, pero que no le es nada ajeno.
Xabi Alonso conoce las virtudes del austriaco. Ambos compartieron etapa en el Bayern, desde 2014 hasta la retirada del español. En aquella época, Pep Guardiola buscaba fluidez y Alaba se convirtió, por momentos, en esa pieza híbrida capaz de cerrar espacios defensivos y generar superioridades en la construcción. La salida de balón del austriaco es uno de sus puntos fuertes, una baza que Xabi puede usar a su favor en su andadura madridista.
Los centrales mostraron su conexión más allá del juego.
Alaba combinó la posición de mediocentro con la de lateral izquierdo, siendo esta última la más natural. En el Madrid, ambas han quedado relegadas a un segundo plano porque llegó directo para apuntalar la pareja de centrales tras la salida de Sergio Ramos. Ese rol fue fundamental para que el conjunto blanco sumase su decimocuarta Champions League.
En el presente, la situación es distinta. La temporada pasada la defensa se convirtió en el talón de Aquiles del Madrid. Ancelotti vivió con un solar por culpa de las bajas. La irrupción de Asencio dio alas al conjunto blanco, pero no las suficientes para remontar el vuelo. En este mercado, el club se ha reforzado con Huijsen, quien tiene un hueco a su nombre en la zaga. La vuelta de Militao deja a Alaba como la pieza más prescindible atrás.
Alaba en uno de los entrenamientos de la pretemporada.
Un final a la altura
Probablemente el escenario no sea el ideal para Alaba. Viene de dos temporadas donde las lesiones le han empujado a un papel residual. Una rotura de ligamento cruzado le apartó durante más de un año. Por ello, para él esta oportunidad representa más que una mera reubicación táctica. Es la posibilidad de escribir un final digno y a la altura de su estatus. La medular puede otorgarle un ecosistema favorable para que salgan a relucir algunas de sus mejores prestaciones.
El futuro del austriaco en el Madrid pasa, paradójicamente, por regresar a su pasado. Un lugar en el mediocampo desde el que puede demostrar una de sus versiones más destacadas. Ahí, quizás, todo termine como debe terminar: con él controlando los tiempos y recordando por qué el fútbol es, ante todo, un deporte de cerebros privilegiados. El experimento de Xabi Alonso podría ser la llave que abra la puerta a una última buena temporada para uno de los futbolistas con más voz en el organigrama.
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