FC Barcelona Tell Club Legend Dani Alves To Leave This Summer

FC Barcelona have told Dani Alves that his contract won’t be extended, meaning he will have to leave the club after June 30.

The club legend rejoined the Blaugrana in the winter transfer window, signing as a free agent until the end of this month after a stint at Sao Paulo FC in his homeland.

Impressing at right back and managing to become a starter there under first team coach Xavi Hernandez at the age of 39, Alves has this week been told that he won’t be offered a contract renewal according to SPORT.

The veteran Brazil international is currently on vacation after recently traveling to Asia for two friendlies with his national team known as the Selecao.

Due to Barca’s bombshell news, however, it looks like Alves could have an extended break and will not report for preseason duties with the Catalans on July 4 nor travel with them to the United States for a string of friendlies ahead of the Joan Gamper Trophy clash with Roma at Camp Nou on August 6.

Playing at a European club of repute is important for Alves’ hopes of making Brazil’s 2022 Qatar World Cup squad in November. But Barca’s economic situation while in debts of around $1.5bn, plus the likely signing of ex-Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta, have contributed to him having to look elsewhere for top-level football in 2022/2023.

SPORT say that Alves was even willing to sign a new contract with a special clause in it that meant he could be cut in January after the World Cup, the trophy for which is the only one that has eluded him thus far as the most successful player of all time in terms of silverware.

Yet Barca are said to believe they have right back covered, and they want to give Alves the time and freedom to seek a new employer.

This might not be such an ardent task, as Alves has several offers around Europe that he can now begin looking at in detail. His departure could speed up Azpilicueta’s arrival too, upon which ‘Azpi’ will compete with Sergi Roberto and Sergino Dest for minutes.