The 38-year-old Brazilian was not included in Barcelona’s list to play in the Europa League, in favor of the attackers who arrived during the winter transfer window.
© Dani Alves
Alves Daniel
This season, Dani Alves returned to Barca to try to help the club return to European heights. The 38-year-old Brazilian, however, was not picked up to play in the Europa League with the Catalans. In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, the right-back explains how he experienced this news. “It bothered me to be left out of the Europa League list, but I respected it. I’m sure it was as difficult for Xavi as it was for me. He knows me and he knows what I can bring and how I take things. When you have a good relationship with your coach, things flow more easily. For me, honestly, it was a little easier to fit in than if it had happened to me at other stages of my career. I came to help. If it’s going to be like this, then it has to be done. We’re all in the same boat, trying to rebuild Barca. He knows he hurt me, but I respected the decision. If it had happened to me at 25, I would have been angry. But just when you look at the position, it makes sense. I was not going to be preferred to the players who are responsible for scoring the goals” concludes Dani Alves.