Brazilian giants Athletico Paranaense are reportedly interested in signing Dani Alves if he leaves Barcelona as a free agent in the summer.
According to a report by Spanish publication SPORT, Dani Alves is the subject of interest from Athletico Paranaense over a possible Bosman move in the summer transfer window. The Brazilian club’s manager Luiz Felipe Scolari wants to have the veteran right-back at his disposal in the second half of the 2022 season.
Dani Alves is the most successful player at the club level in the game’s history, with the Brazilian defender winning a staggering 42 trophies in his illustrious career. The veteran right-back’s most fruitful stint came during his first spell with Barcelona, where he won every trophy multiple times during an eight-year stay at Camp Nou.
Alves is currently in his second stint with Barcelona after sealing a popular return on a free transfer this past winter. And the 39-year-old has been a reliable performer for Barcelona despite his advancing age, chipping in with one goal and three assists in 16 appearances thus far.
But Alves faces an uncertain future at FC Barcelona as his contract will expire next month and there is little development on the renewal front. While the Catalan giants were reportedly ready to hand the veteran defender a new deal in March, they have reconsidered their stance in the last few weeks.
With Alves’s future highly uncertain, a second departure from Barcelona could be on the cards this summer. But with the 2022 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, Alves wants to continue playing at the club level to be in the right rhythm and fitness to be a pivotal figure for Brazil in Qatar.
Athletico Paranaense could offer Alves a lifeline, with Luiz Felipe Scolari keen on reuniting with the 39-year-old in the summer. The Brazilian giants could offer Alves a short-term contract until the end of the 2022 season, meaning he will be in the right shape to compete at the World Cup.
Alves could join another veteran Brazilian in Fernandinho at Athletico Paranaense, with the Manchester City captain set to depart from the Etihad as a free agent. But Alves wants to stay put at FC Barcelona and will continue to advocate for a short-term renewal before possibly hanging up his boots.
