Barcelona

Barcelona defender Dani Alves hits back at personal criticism

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 15 March 2016

Barcelona defender Dani Alves claims that he deserves more respect for his achievements at Camp Nou, where he has won five league titles and three Champions League crowns.

Barcelona defender Dani Alves has claimed that he deserves more respect for his achievements in the game.

The Brazilian international has a strained relationship with the Spanish media and has been the subject of criticism over the last couple of seasons despite helping Barcelona to a number of trophies.

The right-back has jokingly claimed that "without being able to defend properly", he has managed to spend nine years with the Spanish giants, where he has won five La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey crowns and three Champions League trophies.

"I'm no [Lionel] Messi, but every time he goes to the Ballon d'Or ceremony he has to take me with him because I'm in the FIFA team of the season," Alves told the Daily Mail.

"Maybe it's because I have a friend among the judges but I have five of those [team of the year] trophies. I even joke with him: 'You have to keep taking me to this gala because every time I come with you, you win'. Without being able to defend properly I have lasted nine years at Barcelona. Imagine what I would have achieved if I had been any good.

"Maybe it is easier to win things at Barcelona, but it's also more difficult to stay in the team here or at least to stay in it for long enough to win this much."

Alves has also been named in the FIFA FIFPro World XI on five occasions since 2009.