Transfer Centre

Sao Paulo defender Dani Alves reveals Barcelona, Juventus interest

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 13 September 2019

Dani Alves says that Barcelona and Juventus expressed an interest in signing him earlier this summer before he opted to join Sao Paulo.

Dani Alves has revealed that he rejected opportunities at Barcelona and Juventus in order to sign for Sao Paulo.

After it was revealed that his two-year spell with Paris Saint-Germain would come to an end this summer, the right-back was linked with a wide range of different clubs.

However, rather than prolong his career in Europe, Alves opted to return to Brazil to join his boyhood club, claiming that they were the team to show the most faith in him at the back end of his playing days.

The 36-year-old told The Players' Tribune: "I had the opportunity to return to Juventus, and also to Barcelona, but only Sao Paulo, the team of my dreams, believed in me and gave me stability until 2022 so that I can fight to play in the World Cup.

"I've said it since the start of my career: I'm free and I'll decide when I start and finish my career. The other teams believe that I have an expiration date, and I feel like a child again. I'm back home, I'm starting my career now."

Alves spent nine years of his career - between 2008 and 2017 - at Barcelona and Juventus.