With Jordi Alba struggling… can Dani Alves play left-back?

The first piece of mid-season business that Barcelona completed in this campaign from hell was to bring a 38-year-old Dani Alves back to the club. While he’s far from the player he was when marshalling the right flank during the Pep Guardiola era, the Brazilian’s technical talent is still there and he has brought experience and leadership to a team of youngsters. So far, the veteran has played 378 minutes of a possible 420, so it’s clear Xavi trusts his former teammate.

But, maybe what Barcelona needed more was a similar reinforcement on the left of defence. That’s because Jordi Alba is having a poor season, which went from bad to worse in the Copa del Rey elimination against Athletic Club on Thursday night. In Bilbao, the Catalan was destroyed by Nico Williams time and time again and, even if it was a controversial call, he gave away the extra time penalty that decided the tie.

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At right-back, Dani Alves arrived to strengthen a position where Barcelona already had Sergiño Dest, while Sergi Roberto will be back from injury too, probably in February. As well as those two, Ronald Araújo and Óscar Mingueza have each had minutes at right-back too this season and done a job.

There wasn’t really a need to bring in another right-back, as much as Xavi isn’t a big Dest fan, but the Dani Alves opportunity was too good to turn down, especially since he is playing for the minimum LaLiga wage of €155,000.

Can Dani Alves play left-back, though? Or is there a Dani Alves equivalent for the left-hand side? This is where Barcelona’s defence needs serious work, with Jordi Alba struggling and also facing little competition from youth teamer Álex Balde, the only other left-back in the mix and a player who has been injured multiple times already this campaign.

It’s not easy for Barcelona to bring in any players right now, given their salary cap limitations. But, left-back is a position of need and their top four ambitions require an immediate and significant improvement in the performance from the left side of defence. Perhaps that comes from Jordi Alba rediscovering some form, but, if not, then Barça will be in a tough spot.

When does Jordi Alba’s contract expire?

Jordi Alba isn’t going anywhere any time soon, with the 32-year-old’s contract running until 2024. At the time of his renewal, halfway through the 2018/19 campaign, he was in good form. But, now those additional years are daunting for the club.

At right-back, Barcelona have brought in a prospect for the future in Dest and a veteran for the present in Dani Alves. At left-back, though, it’s Jordi Alba and that’s it. There’s a need to look at the future of that position, while the present may require a Dani Alves-esque figure too.