By Daily Sports on November 13, 2021
Barcelona have confirmed the return of veteran full-back Dani Alves after performing a U-turn regarding his signing.
GOAL reported that a deal for the veteran defender was close despite it appearing at one stage as though the prospect of bringing the 38-year-old back to the Blaugrana would be passed up.
But new head coach Xavi has pushed the club to bring back his former team-mate and an agreement in principle was announced on Friday.
Barcelona published a statement announcing Alves’ return, which read: “FC Barcelona and Dani Alves have reached an agreement in principle for the player to join the football first team for the remainder of the current season.
“The Brazilian will be joining training from next week but will not be able to play until January.
“The club will announce the full details at his official presentation as a new FC Barcelona player.”
Alves left the door open for Barca to make their move when telling Sport in October that he would be willing to listen to offers.
He said: “It would sound very opportunistic to say that Barca need me now. I always said that I left because I saw things were not the way I thought they should be.
“You never want to see everything that [has] ended up happening since I left. I've said that when Barca need me and want me, I would be at their disposal regardless of where I am. The affection, love and respect I have for this club is too much.
“If Barca think they need me, they just have to call me. I still think I can contribute anywhere, but more at Barca because of the number of young players that they have now.”
Ronald Koeman was still in charge at that time, with Alves at Camp Nou to watch the Champions League clash with Dynamo Kyiv.
Xavi inherited a squad from Koeman that already includes right-back options such as Sergino Dest and Sergi Roberto.
Barca have however been struggling for consistency and another experienced head alongside Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba and Marc-Andre ter Stegen would not go amiss.
Alves is also a financially sound addition for a club that has racked up some eye-watering debts and is finding it difficult to generate funds for big-money transfers.
The South American has been available as a free agent since severing ties with Sao Paulo in September.
He will need time in which to get up to full speed, but he is already well versed in the demands of life at Camp Nou.
Alves’ previous stint with Barca, between 2008 and 2016, saw him collect 23 trophies and cement a place in club folklore. (Goal)
•PHOTO: Veteran full-back Dani Alves
Source Daily Sports
Posted November 13, 2021
You may also like...
Arsenal Owner Dismisses Dangote Bid
U- 17 World Cup: We can’t afford to...
Weah confident Nigeria can win Russia 2018 World...
'No-one downing tools' - Alonso's stay of execution...
Kayode stopped by pregnant wife from turning up...
Mourinho Warns Son May Not Be Released For...

NPFL: Rangers win big as Nasarawa shock Abia
Nigeria know World Table Tennis Champs foes today
Bayelsa athletics boss Oredipe maps out dev plans
Falcons stars dominate IFFHS Africa XI
Eguavoen backs NPFL talents for Nigeria squad despite CHAN failure
He’s very strong, Simeone returns Osimhen praise
Joshua boxing return still uncertain
NBA star Bane eyes Nigeria switch
Palmer 'very, very happy' at Chelsea, says Rosenior
AFCON 2025: VAR recording discloses what referee said before Morocco's penalty miss against Senegal
AFCON 2025 highlights: World-class stadiums, VAR drama, record attendance
Oliseh slams Osimhen for costing Eagles’ AFCON trophy
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,494 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,788 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,684 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,344 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,277 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,187 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,054 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,608 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,787 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,314 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,704 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,173 views)