Dani Alves is set to return to Camp Nou after signing a contract with FC Barcelona until the end of the season.
FC Barcelona have formally announced the capture of Dani Alves. The experienced defender has agreed a deal in principle to return to Camp Nou, signing a contract until the end of the season. He is expected to join the camp next week, although he won’t be eligible to feature for Barcelona until the start of January.
The 38-year-old is being brought in under the request of Xavi. The newly-appointed Barcelona head coach wants the support of his former teammate, both on and off the pitch, as he looks to usher in a new era after replacing Ronald Koeman at the helm earlier this month.
Formerly of EC Bahia, Alves is the most successful player to have ever played football, with a total of 43 trophies to his name. The Brazilian’s most successful spell at club level came at Barcelona, where the right-back won three Champions League titles, six La Liga titles and four Copa Del Rey, among other accolades.
The veteran defender left Barcelona in 2016, joining Juventus on a free transfer. He won the double in Italy before moving to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. In France, Alves won two back-to-back Ligue 1 titles while also helping Brazil secure the 2019 Copa America title.
With a total of 391 competitive appearances for Barcelona, Xavi is hoping that his experience and leadership could help his team find that solidity and organisation in defence. He may also solve the right-back problem, which has been haunting the Catalans for years, with none of their current options living up to their potential.
In the past, Dani Alves has voiced his desire to return to Camp Nou, insisting that all Barcelona need to do is call. It was recently reported that the club was not interested in re-signing the Brazilian on a free transfer, but it appears Xavi has managed to convince the bosses to bring the experienced defender back to Camp Nou.
It remains to be seen if Dani Alves can prove to be a blessing for Barcelona. For his part, the right-back will be hoping to add some much-needed composure and experience in the Barca backline and hopefully add another feather in his cap by securing silverware at the end of the season.
