Dani Alves said goodbye to Barcelona. It’s the 39-year-old Brazilian winger’s second departure from the Camp Nou. “The time has come. They have been dedicated to this club and these colors for more than eight years. But in life, paths separate. A very beautiful cycle is coming to an end,” published Alves on his social networks this Wednesday afternoon Club already informed that they won’t have him for next season.”I want to thank the staff for the opportunity they gave me to come back to my homeland,” added the footballer.
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Without a team and with the idea of playing at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the defender offered himself to Barça last November. Xavi Hernández, who has just returned to the Camp Nou to take over the Barça bench, gave him the thumbs up. The manager wanted to increase the competition in the squad and rely on Alves’ ability to create a good atmosphere in the dressing room. “I wasn’t born to be second, I always want to be first. I’m not here to hang out or live in Barcelona. I’m here to play and fight for a position,” said Dani Alves on the day of his Camp Nou presentation.
The winger’s first spell at Barcelona began with Pep Guardiola in 2008 and ended with Luis Enrique in 2016. “At the Camp Nou I was in a comfort zone and in too comfortable a position. And that is in me that something is wrong. What moves me are the challenges and the fight to make history somewhere else,” he concluded in 2016 after signing for Juventus. He had played 391 games for Barça, totaling 21 goals and 101 assists.
He started his second spell at the Camp Nou at the last winter market. “Dani Alves is a sensational player, associative, with team spirit, character and soul, and he will do us a lot of good,” said Xavi after the revival of the winger in the Maradona Cup last December. However, the first setback for the Brazilian came in the Europa League. The Catalan manager opted to leave him off the list for European competition. “I’ve always understood that life is made up of phases and I know which phase I’m in now, closer to the end than to the beginning. If Xavi does that to me when I’m 25, we might end up in fistfights… but now we’re here to help Barça and I know it hurt him having to make the decision to let me out ‘ said the defender. Under Xavi’s command, Alves made 17 appearances, scoring one goal and providing four assists.
But with Dest in the squad, Sergi Roberto’s contract extension and the sports division’s bet on César Azpilicueta’s inclusion, Barça felt the right-back position would be well filled. “23 titles were won: two triples, a sextet and a great book written in gold. But don’t let the world forget: A lion is still a lion, even if he’s 39 years old. i am resilient Visca Barça forever,” concluded Dani Alves. The winger, who has featured in Brazil’s last two friendlies, is sticking to his idea of playing in Qatar. He wants the 46th title of his career. Nobody in football has lifted more trophies than him.
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