Football | First
FC Barcelona confirms the arrival of the Brazilian winger, without a team since he left Sao Paulo in September
The peaceful revolution of Xavi Hernández at the controls of the erratic Barça ship was to impose more order and discipline on the squad. Ousmane Dembélé was the first to suffer from the coach’s new policy and was fined for arriving three minutes late for training on Friday. But these changes will not only affect the footballers’ pockets, but also their number in the dressing room. Barça confirmed last night the signing of Dani Alves, without a team since he left Sao Paulo in September. In other words, it comes to Barcelona at zero cost and with a moderate salary. A relief for the poor culés coffers.
Xavi supports, in this way, the right back that has given so many headaches to the last technicians in recent years due to the lack of personnel, which speaks of the club’s terrible sports management. Only Sergiño Dest can consider that position as natural. Óscar Mingueza -central, above all, although he has complied- and Sergi Roberto -a Swiss army knife since Guardiola’s time- have taken turns when the American was injured or played extreme. That’s where both Koeman and Sergi put it.
The only doubt with Alves, 38, is his physical condition. He shared a booth with the current Blaugrana coach between 2008 and 2016. They know each other perfectly and Xavi knows what the Juzeiro player, who has won 42 official titles throughout his career, can bring him. The last was gold at the Tokyo Olympics. Three Champions, two American Cups, nine leagues (six with Barça, two with PSG and one with Juventus), five King’s Cups (four with the Catalans and one with Sevilla) or four European Super Cups are some of their titles.
He only needs a World Cup to complete his brilliant record. And for the appointment of Qatar there is a year and nine days to start. More than enough time for Alves to convince Brazil coach Tite that he can still give his country one last service.
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