Getting the band back together! Dani Alves set to return to the Nou Camp as Barcelona confirm a deal has been agreed in principle… and the Brazilian says he’s ready to help ‘rebuild the best club in the world’
- Dani Alves joined Barcelona in 2008 as boss Pep Guardiola’s first big signing
- Now Alves is set to make a sensational Barcelona comeback at 38 years old
- Alves is set to be presented as the Catalan giants’ latest signing next week
- New boss Xavi has now backed the signing of his former Barca team-mate
Barcelona have confirmed that they have reached an agreement in principle to bring 38-year-old Brazilian Dani Alves back to the Nou Camp.
Alves played for Barca between 2008-16 in a trophy-laden spell during which he won six LaLiga titles, three Champions League crowns and three Club World Cup trophies among other major honours.
He is now set to reunite with former team-mate and new Barca manager Xavi after signing
Dani Alves will make a stunning return to Barcelona after agreeing a deal in principle to re-join the club
As a result, he will become Xavi’s first signing after taking over as the Barcelona manager
Barcelona confirmed in a statement that he will join training next week but will not be able to play until January.
Alves on Friday evening posted a message on his official Instagram page which included a picture of him kissing the Barcelona badge on the side of the Nou Camp bitch.
He wrote: ‘Almost five years fighting like crazy to get to that moment.
‘I didn’t know it would last that long, I didn’t know it would be so difficult, but I knew within my heart and within my soul that this day would come.
‘I go home from where I never left and as I said before I left; I AM ONE OF YOU, I DON’T KNOW HOW LONG THAT DREAM WILL LAST, BUT MAY IT BE ETERNAL WHILE IT LASTS !!
‘See you soon where it fascinates me the most, with the same enthusiasm as the first time and with the same desire to help rebuild THE BEST CLUB IN THE WORLD!!’
Alves had offered his services to Barcelona as a free agent but the club had knocked back the chance to resign the Brazil international with the emphasis on youth moving forward under new coach Xavi.
But Barcelona have now confirmed that Xavi has backed the signing.
It means mean both Xavi and Pep Guardiola signed Alves when they took over as first team coach.
The Brazilian was Guardiola’s first big signing in 2008. He was 25 then. He will be 39 next May.
Alves and Xavi have remained good friends and their combinations with Lionel Messi were the foundation on which so many Barcelona goals were built.
Alves was Pep Guardiola’s first big signing in 2008. He was 25 then and turns 39 next year
Xavi (right) and Alves (left) are good friends and their combinations with Lionel Messi were the foundation on which so many Barcelona goals were built
Alves’ arrival will leave many Barcelona fans scratching their heads. Others argue even at 38 he will be better than some of Barcelona’s current options in that position.
Even with Xavi’s green light, wages could be a problem but Alves has told Barcelona he is well aware of the problems the club have with their salary cap and is ready to be the lowest earner in the first team squad.
Barcelona’s monumental failure to even come close to replacing Alves is one of the club’s biggest failings over the last five years.
The biggest error was trying to find someone similar instead of someone who could defend. Nelson Semedo, Emerson and Sergino Dest all had and have some of Alves’ attacking qualities but without his brilliant powers of recovery and desire to win.
Alves last turned out for Sao Paulo in his native Brazil but remains a free agent after leaving
Some have argued that even at 38 Alves (above) will be better than some of Barcelona’s current options in that position
He showed his quality again at last summer’s Olympics and his desire to stay fit for the next World Cup and play on until he turns 40 in May 2023 would be great sources of motivation wherever he goes.
No one in football has won more than Alves. And his longevity is almost as awe-inspiring.
When he left Barcelona he almost joined Guardiola at Manchester City to work with the man he called ‘football’s Einstein’. He joined Juventus in 2017 instead and here we are almost five years later talking about where he might go next. Even a cruciate ligament tear in 2018 could not keep him down for long.
Nelson Semedo, Emerson and Sergino Dest (above) all had and have some of Alves’ attacking qualities but without his brilliant powers of recovery and desire to win
Alves – who left in 2016 – has previously said that he would like to play in the Premier League
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
