Dani Alves’ uncertain future

Dani Alves turns 39 today in the midst of uncertainty about his future. The veteran full-back rejoined Barcelona as a free agent in the January transfer window. At the time, the club were left with limited options at right-back, and decided to bring back their former player after he won gold with Brazil at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

Alves was brought in for more than just his talent. His character, experience and positivity around the club was a win-win for the club and a player who was looking for game time ahead of the 2022 World Cup.

His contract includes the possibility of a renewal at the end of the season which hasn’t yet been triggered. Xavi values his contribution and praises the fact that, despite his age, he has always given his best on the pitch while at the same time acting as a leader in the dressing room.

Left out of Europa League squad

Despite the praise from Xavi, the head coach left Alves out of his squad for the Europa League, something Alves was unhappy about. In a recent interview with Mundo Deportivo, he admitted that the decision “hurt, but I accepted it because I’m 38 years old. If he had done it to me when I was 25 we would have ended up in a fist fight”.

Alves is by no means the player he was during his last spell at Barcelona, but his presence in the side has helped the Blaugrana move from ninth place to second place in LaLiga. With him in the starting eleven, Barcelona have not lost a single game.

Impressive record

His record speaks for itself. Between spells with Sevilla, Barcelona, Juventus and PSG, he has won 36 titles while with the Brazilian national team he has won six more.

Still hungry to keep playing and go to the World Cup with Brazil, Alves has four league games left to convince Xavi to keep him.