CONFIRMED: Barcelona agree deal in principle to re-sign Dani Alves
Stefan Bienkowski
- Updated: 12 Nov 2021 15:30 CST
- 3 min read
Barcelona have confirmed that an agreement in principle has been reached to allow full-back Dani Alves to return to the club.
Due to La Liga rules, the Catalan club will have to wait until the league body can confirm that Alves’ contract doesn’t break financial restrictions imposed upon the club.
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In what will likely be the club’s first signing since appointing Xavi as their new manager, Alves would be returning to the club six years after departing for Juvenus in 2016.
And while Alves may now be 38 years of age, his return will surely galvanise fans that are already excited about what Xavi can do with this squad.
Back in DA house! pic.twitter.com/qicb8RRc1h
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) November 12, 2021
"FC Barcelona and Dani Alves have reached an agreement in principle for the player to join the football first team for the remainder of the current season,” said Barcelona in a club statement on Friday.
"The Brazilian will be joining training from next week but will not be able to play until January.
"The club will announce the full details at his official presentation as a new FC Barcelona player."
Why have Barca signed Alves?
Despite his age, there’s no doubt that Alves could likely still do a decent job for Barca for the remainder of the season.
Indeed, Xavi likely took one look at his side and realised that the team were a little light on right wing-back options, with Moussa Wague providing the only real alternative to Sergino Dest.
As well as that, Alves also brings with him a wealth of experience to a dressing room that has not only lost an influential figure in Lionel Messi but is also extremely discouraged after a poor start to the season.
Whether Alves has been signed to bomb up and down the right flank or to simply provide encouragement on the sidelines remains to be seen, but Xavi clearly thought his presence would add something to his side.
