Former Barcelona defender Dani Alves reportedly wishes to retire at Camp Nou and is seeking a summer return to the club.
As per reports from Spanish outlet Don Balon, Paris Saint-Germain full-back and former Barcelona star Dani Alves is keen on securing a return to Camp Nou next summer.
The 35-year old Brazilian spent eight years with the Catalans, having joined from Sevilla in 2008 for €32.5 million and went on to have a memorable spell with the Blaugrana.
During his time with the reigning La Liga champions, Alves went on to make 391 appearances, scoring 21 goals and setting up 100 more. In the process, the right-back lifted six La Liga titles and three UEFA Champions League trophies, along with numerous other honours.
Alves left Barca in 2016 to join Juventus on a free transfer, despite having a year left on his contract with the Catalan outfit. Having moved to Italy, the defender played a key role in the Bianconeri’s domestic double and their run to the UEFA Champions League final, where they were beaten by Real Madrid.
In the subsequent summer, the Brazilian full-back switched clubs once again, joining French heavyweights PSG and went on to win the domestic quadruple with his new club in his debut campaign. A cruciate ligament rupture towards the end of the 2017-18 season meant that he missed the summer’s World Cup and hasn’t featured for Les Parisiens yet in the ongoing term.
Alves, who is expected to return to action towards the end of the year, has his eyes set on a summer return to Barcelona, as he is understood to be intent on reuniting with the Catalans’ skipper Lionel Messi and finish his career at the club.
The 35-year old will see his contract with the reigning French champions run out at the end of the season and as per reports, he is prepared to take a huge pay cut in order to secure a comeback to Camp Nou for one final season, before hanging up his boots.
However, any return to the La Liga champions will not be easy for the Brazilian, with the club hierarchy believed to be angered by some of the statements that he made against the club directors post his exit two years ago. Manager Ernesto Valverde is believed to have the final say on any possible transfer for the 35-year old.
Sergi Roberto is the first-choice right-back for the Catalans at the moment, with Nelson Semedo acting as the understudy. But, with the Portuguese not particularly impressing in the chances that he has got, Barcelona are likely to be in the market for a new right-sided full-back next summer.
However, given the way Alves left the club in 2016 and the fact that he is set to spend half of the ongoing season out on the sidelines, a return to Camp Nou in the summer seems a distant possibility.
