Juventus are on the verge of signing Dani Alves from La Liga champions FC Barcelona, with Bianconeri director Beppe Marotta confirming the club’s negotiations for the fullback are “coming along well”.
Alves has been linked with a move away from Barcelona since last season, and it looks like the Brazilian’s transfer might actually happen in this transfer window. The Catalans will be looking for some young blood in their right back position, as Alves is now 33 years old.
To add to that, Alves’s contract with Barcelona runs out in another year, making it all the more imperative for the Catalans to sell him before he becomes a free agent.
Juventus have been playing Stefan Lichsteiner and Juan Cuadrado on the rightwing/wing-back position throughout the season. However, with Cuadrado back at his parent club Chelsea, the Bianconeri are in the search for another player who could operate in that position.
Alves seems to be the perfect replacement for Cuadrado, and Juventus director Marotta has said the club’s negotiations to land the Brazilian fullback are going well.
“I can confirm that the negotiations for Dani Alves are coming along well and we are very satisfied with them,” Marotta said on Sky Sports [via AS].
However, according to Alves’s agent Dinorah Santana, the 33 year old is not yet close to signing with Juventus this summer. While confirming he has met with officials from the Serie A champions, Santana also said that the Brazilian is courting offers from a number of other clubs.
“It is true that I have met with Juventus, but not only with them. I have also met with Turkish clubs, with one from England and another from France,” Santana was quoted saying in Marca.
Enrique looking for young blood in defence
Alves has been a faithful servant to Barcelona over the last eight years, but it may be time for the Catalan club to move ahead without 33 year old fullback.
Although the Catalans have won the league and cup double this season, they clearly looked worn out with fixture congestion towards the end of the campaign. Not only did they crash out of the Champions League by virtue of a quarter final defeat at the hands of Spanish rivals Atletico Madrid, they also squandered a nine point lead at the top of the La Liga table, only to win it by a mere point in the end.
If Barcelona wish to challenge on all fronts, they need to have players who can consistently perform, playing two matches every week. Hence, the Catalans need to improve their defence by injecting some young blood into it.
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