Alves: “Barça could have been straight with me”

Dani Alves always speaks his mind. The new Pumas signing has opened up about leaving Barcelona for a second time. In his official presentation with the Mexican club, the Brazilian explained how it transpired that Barça would not be renewing his contract: “There are ways and means of respecting each other - of respecting the people who have done great things at Barça. So I said I was, ‘eternally grateful’ - but not for how they handled the matter of renewing my contract, or not. When I came back to Barça I said at the time that they would never have problems with me. Living in Barcelona is a gift of life. To be able to work or play for Barça even more, but… they can be entirely straight with me and discuss things face to face. If I stay, I’ll stay. If I leave, I’ll go. But we had almost a month of waiting before they told me, hey, we’re not going to renew your contract”.

Bidding Camp Nou farewell

At least the Brazilian full-back will have a second opportunity to bid farewell to the fans - something which he didn’t get the chance to do in the final home game of last season. He explained, “I had supposedly come back to say goodbye to the Camp Nou - to my people, because in the end, life treats well those who treat life well; and respects those who respect life. I’ve been the chance to come and play the Trofeo Gamper at Camp Nou with Pumas, so that I can say a goodbye properly and not be kicked me out before I can say farewell. I left via the back door the previous time. That didn’t happen this time because my contract was up. And I asked, ‘What’s going on?’ ‘Well, nothing.’ ‘Ok, Thank you, bye’. It didn’t ruin my expectations because I didn’t expect much more. I had signed for six months… and that had come to an end. But at least let me know in advance! Before the last game at Camp Nou, against Villarreal, they could have told me: ‘Dani, you’re not going to continue here. And I could have said goodbye to fans right then and there.”