Udinese’s Alaba adds to Serie A’s growing roster of ageing stars

Under the floodlights of Stadio Friuli, David Alaba stepped onto the pitch in a crisp Udinese shirt, the crowd buzzing at the sight of the former Real Madrid defender making his Serie A debut.

Serie A has shed its image as the continent’s premier destination for the world’s brightest stars, morphing into a league where many former luminaries extend their careers. Among those still lighting up the Italian stage are Luka Modric, now 40, Kevin De Bruyne at 35, and Paulo Dybala, aged 32.

Matic and other once‑big names

Nemanja Matic arrived in Italy after his Manchester United spell wound down, with Jose Mourinho pushing for a move to Roma in 2022. He featured in a Europa League final for the capital club but left after a year, citing unkept promises of a longer contract. After two seasons in France with Rennes and Lyon, the 38‑year‑old returned to Serie A with Sassuolo, making 34 appearances last season under manager Alberto Aquilani, who is only four years his senior.

Swiss defender Rodriguez, the nation’s second‑most‑capped player after Granit Xhaka, spent the summer as a free agent following his release by Real Betis. In September he re‑joined Torino for a second spell, having already amassed more than 100 appearances for the club between 2020 and 2024, and previously featured for AC Milan from 2017. Since his return he has made just one substitute appearance.

Former Fiorentina and Juventus winger Bernardeschi left Serie A in 2022 for Toronto FC, where he teamed up with compatriots Lorenzo Insigne and Domenico Criscito. The 32‑year‑old resumed his Italian career in 2025 with Bologna, scoring nine goals from 45 games last season, over half of which came in the Europa League.

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Defensive stalwarts on loan and permanent deals

Diego Carlos, once part of Sevilla’s Europa League‑winning centre‑back duo with Jules Kounde in 2020, has traversed a varied path, playing for Aston Villa before joining Turkish side Fenerbahçe. He has spent the past two seasons on loan in Serie A, first with Como – who qualified for the Champions League last season – and now with Parma, where he started all three league matches since his deadline‑day arrival under former Arsenal assistant Carlos Cuesta.

Alessandro Kolasinac, a former Arsenal player, is embarking on his fourth Serie A season with Atalanta. After featuring in half of the club’s league games last season, he has already played in four of the first five fixtures this term, benefitting from Maurizio Sarri’s switch to a back‑four that restores him to his natural left‑back position.

Hermoso, after five years at Atletico Madrid, became a free agent in 2024 and was linked with Manchester United before signing for Roma as a replacement for Chris Smalling. His first season was turbulent, leading to a loan at Bayer Leverkusen, but he returned to feature in 27 league games for Roma last season under Gian Piero Gasperini and now regularly starts on the left of the club’s back three.

Alaba joins the league of ageing stars

David Alaba’s move to Udinese, following his release by Real Madrid, places him alongside the aforementioned veterans, reinforcing Serie A’s reputation as a retirement haven for former world‑class talent. His arrival underscores a broader trend: the Italian top flight now serves as a second wind for players seeking to prolong their careers while still competing at a high level.