The Barcelona right-back faces competition for the first time in six years
The Barcelona right-back, untouchable for six years, sees his position threatened for the first time after the arrival of Aleix Vidal.
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There was a time when Dani Alves could do no wrong, even with his lack of discretion when it came to dressing. It was a time when Camp Nou understood why Barcelona paid €40 million for his signing in the summer of 2008. Alves established himself under the command of Pep Guardiola, who gave him the freedom to create plays from the right flank as one of the team's masterminds, taking advantage of the fact that Lionel Messi was also playing on the same side.
Alves was untouchable ever since then. Indisputable under Guardiola, he experienced a slight dip in performance under Tito Vilanova and Tata Martino, but the arrival of Luis Enrique Martínez, a coach who values the character and passion with which the Brazilian lives his life and plays football, brought him back to his best form last season at the age of 32.
However, that wasn't enough to convince President Josep Maria Bartomeu to increase his contract renewal offer. Barcelona signed Aleix Vidal believing that Alves would leave the club. The celebration of the treble made him reconsider and he signed a contract extension until 2017, under the club's conditions, earning six million euros per season. But something had been broken.
Alves has always been loved by the fans, who still criticize his antics on the field. But that's just the way he is. Just like he would pretend to be fouled by Pepe, he would also refer to the entire press as "garbage", although he clarified that he was referring to only a small part of the press, as the player himself stated a few days after the club distanced itself from his words.
De verdad que cada día que pasa me da más vergüenza formar parte de este deporte, de cómo nos utilizan, de cómo juegan con nosotros. Pensé un día que saldríamos cada uno a defender sus colores, sus equipos, pensé que si ganara o si perdiera me iba a casa enfadado a reflexionar lo mal que habíamos echo o a disfrutar de lo bien que hicimos. Hoy somos objetos utilizados por la prensa para que ellos se beneficie, para que ellos vendan periódico. Cada ves más se habla menos de fútbol, de estrategia, de las jugadas, de los regates de los goles, de las paradas y del espectáculo. "Que p... basura que son" #masfutbolymenosbasura Ass: #goodcrazy
This year, Alves is struggling to find his best form. He will turn 33 years old in May and, for the first time since he arrived in Barcelona, his starting position is being threatened, one of the most undisputed positions in recent years.
Nobody occupied Barcelona's right flank for as long as he did; no other full-back had the influence that his game provided in Barcelona's most successful era.
But the arrival of Vidal, signed to be a starter at a time when the club thought Alves would leave, precipitated the power shift. Luis Enrique has a lot of confidence in the Catalan full-back. Since his debut on January 6th, replacing Alves incidentally, he predicts changes in the right flank in this second half of the season, as shown by their numbers since they compete for the same position.
It is true that Vidal can also play in more advanced positions. In fact, they both played together during the second leg of the Copa del Rey round of 16 in Cornellà - El Prat and also for a few minutes two days ago at San Mamés.
However, it is also evident that Alves' relationship with Barcelona is seriously strained. The board does not like his outbursts and a portion of the press, which helped him with his renewal a few months ago, still does not understand the disregard of a player who was always known for his good relationship with the media, being one of the few who always approached the microphones no matter what happened on the field, which is appreciated.
Despite this, his time at Camp Nou has not yet ended. This season will determine his immediate future like never before. And the competition is the strongest he has ever faced since joining Barcelona.