Barcelona, November 17 (BNA): Dani Alves took to the field barefoot at the Camp Nou and was greeted by a crowd of more than 10,000, where he was introduced to Barcelona fans again on Wednesday, saying he insisted on returning to help put the team in place. The Catalan club is back on the right track.
The 38-year-old Brazilian defender has said he will be ready to fight for his starting point when he is eligible to play in January, an Associated Press report said today.
“I come to compete, not just to spend time and live in Barcelona,” Alves said. “I come to play and fight for a place in the team. I will not return just because I have a very good relationship with the coach or the president. Through hard work I will try to contribute in any way I can.”
Alves has been without a club since his departure from Brazil’s Sao Paulo in September. He signed a contract with Barcelona until the end of the season, the first season for the club without Lionel Messi in nearly two decades.
Barcelona has suffered one of its worst crises amid unprecedented financial difficulties that began before the coronavirus pandemic.
Xavi, a former Alves team-mate, took over the club after Ronald Koeman was sent off due to the team’s poor results this season. Barcelona are ninth in La Liga and had a poor start to their Champions League campaign.
Alves was part of Barcelona’s greatest era from 2008 to 2016, helping the club win 23 titles, including three Champions League titles and six La Liga titles.
He scored 23 goals in 391 games for Barcelona before leaving to play for Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and then Sao Paulo, where he disagreed with club officials over the money he owed.
Alves said his goal is to play for Brazil in the World Cup next year, and this will depend on his performance with Barcelona.
The current right-backs for Barcelona are Serginio Dest, a 21-year-old American, and Oscar Mingueza, 22. Sergi Roberto can also play in the center.
Alves will wear the number 8 shirt belonging to former team-mate Andres Iniesta. He said he chose the number in honor of Iniesta and another former Barcelona great, Hristo Stoichkov, who played for the club in the 1990s.
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