Nicolò Zaniolo has spoken about the arrival of David Alaba at Udinese, calling him a "great champion" and a sign of the club's strength and ambition. According to Zaniolo, Alaba's signing shows that Udinese is aiming for even bigger achievements after last season's positive campaign.

"David is a great champion," Zaniolo said. "His arrival shows the strength of the club, who do not want to stop at last season's positive campaign but are aiming for even bigger things. He is one of those players who have played for the most prestigious clubs in the world, from Real Madrid to Bayern Munich."

Zaniolo also praised Alaba's humility, saying that despite his impressive career, he arrived at Udinese with the right attitude. "He arrived with the utmost humility, which is ultimately what distinguishes a great champion from a player who is simply very good," Zaniolo said.

Udinese coach Kosta Runjaic explained why Alaba was kept on the bench, citing his lack of recent match fitness. "His last official game was three months ago. He is not yet ready to play from the start, but his experience will help us," Runjaic said.

Zaniolo described Runjaic as a direct and clear coach who places great importance on the strength and unity of the group. "He is very direct and very clear. He has everything very clear in his head and he makes it clear to us. He told us that the strength of the group is fundamental, but also that unity makes the difference," Zaniolo said.

Alaba himself said he feels good and is ready to contribute to the team. "I feel good, I am ready to play," Alaba said, adding that Runjaic was the main reason he chose to join Udinese. "Runjaic convinced me to join Udinese," he said.

Udinese resumed their season with the aim of improving on their performances after an up-and-down start to the campaign. With Alaba's arrival, the club hopes to add experience and quality to their squad as they look to climb the Serie A table.

Alaba's signing is seen as a significant statement for Udinese, a club with a history of bringing top players to Italy and competing at a high level. With his experience from some of Europe's biggest clubs, Alaba is expected to play a key role in helping Udinese achieve their ambitions this season.

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