Alaba Says He’s Honored to Take Over Ramos’ Jersey at Madrid

David Alaba. (AFP)
David Alaba. (AFP)
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Alaba Says He’s Honored to Take Over Ramos’ Jersey at Madrid

David Alaba. (AFP)
David Alaba. (AFP)

New Real Madrid signing David Alaba said Wednesday it will be an “honor” to wear Sergio Ramos’ No. 4 jersey at the Spanish club.

Alaba was officially introduced by Madrid after reaching an agreement with the club in May.

“(Ramos has) been here for a decade and became a leader wearing this number,” Alaba said. “That’s a big motivation for me and I want to represent it and honor it. I’ve said that on a few occasions. But I want to repeat that I am not here to compare myself with others. I want to show my strengths and continue to be David Alaba.”

Ramos bid farewell to Madrid last month after spending 16 years at the club. He said he wanted to stay but the club preferred not to renew his contract. He will be playing with Paris Saint-Germain.

Alaba joined Madrid from Bayern Munich, where he played 431 games in 13 years.



Maccabi Tel Aviv Fans Clash with Reported Pro-Palestinian Protesters at Ajax Europa League Match

Ajax supporters hold scarves during the UEFA Europa League, League phase - Matchday 4, football match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv at the Johan-Cruijff stadium, in Amsterdam on November 7, 2024. (Photo by Robin van Lonkhuijsen / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT
Ajax supporters hold scarves during the UEFA Europa League, League phase - Matchday 4, football match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv at the Johan-Cruijff stadium, in Amsterdam on November 7, 2024. (Photo by Robin van Lonkhuijsen / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT
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Maccabi Tel Aviv Fans Clash with Reported Pro-Palestinian Protesters at Ajax Europa League Match

Ajax supporters hold scarves during the UEFA Europa League, League phase - Matchday 4, football match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv at the Johan-Cruijff stadium, in Amsterdam on November 7, 2024. (Photo by Robin van Lonkhuijsen / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT
Ajax supporters hold scarves during the UEFA Europa League, League phase - Matchday 4, football match between Ajax Amsterdam and Maccabi Tel Aviv at the Johan-Cruijff stadium, in Amsterdam on November 7, 2024. (Photo by Robin van Lonkhuijsen / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT

Supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv clashed with apparent pro-Palestinian protesters before and after a Europa League soccer match between their team and Ajax outside the Dutch team’s home stadium in Amsterdam on Thursday night, media and officials said.
The clashes reportedly erupted despite a ban on a pro-Palestinian demonstration imposed by Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema, who had feared that clashes would break out between protesters and supporters of the Israeli soccer club.
Details of the incidents remained unclear, but Israeli media reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called his Dutch counterpart about them.
Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, also condemned the violence in a post on the social media platform X.
There were no immediate reports of arrests or injuries from the clashes outside the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam, the city's main arena and Ajax’s home stadium. Ajax won the Europa League match 5-0 after leading 3-0 at halftime.