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Dani Alves has successfully established himself as one of the best players of his generation. His stature is considered to be what a youngster should aim for before entering this competitive game. Irrespective of his minor shortcomings, Alves remains unplayable on his day.
Dani Alves has had a career to remember
Hailing from Brazilian club Bahia, the enigmatic full-back was rightly identified as a future superstar by the scouts at Sevilla. As a result, the Andalusian side managed to secure his signature for pennies in 2003. Dani Alves experienced an astronomical surge in his market value following this move, owing to his brilliant performances.
The career-defining transfer of Alves's elongated journey occurred in 2008 when Barcelona forked out €35.5m for the services of the Brazilian. He proved to be an instant success at Camp Nou, making 391 appearances and winning 23 trophies during his eight years with the club. Dani Alves finally departed Spain in 2016, following up with brief spells at Juventus and PSG.
At 38, Dani Alves is currently without a club, having been released by Sao Paulo due to contractual disagreements. Despite his old age, Alves is undoubtedly capable of playing at the topmost level in football.
With a hoard of clubs linked to the recent Olympic gold medal winner, let's take a look at five destinations that could be ideal for Dani Alves at this point in his career:
#5 Atletico Madrid
In a shocking turn of events, Atletico Madrid have emerged as one of the leading parties to land Dani Alves' signature post his exit from Sao Paulo. The Brazilian international is apparently eager to make a return to La Liga and Los Rojiblancos have been linked with wanting him.
To fulfill this wish, Dani Alves has reportedly offered himself to Atletico, who can sign him as a free agent in January. While a prolonged waiting period could turn out to be a deal-breaker, the fact that this rumor is picking up considerable momentum is something in itself.
Having said that, the transfer does make sense on practical grounds. Manchester United are keeping consistent tabs on Atletico's star defender Kieran Trippier. If Diego Simeone were to lose his prized right-back, Dani Alves could prove to be a brilliant short-term fix. With his rugged abilities, the 38-year-old could prove to be an astute signing by Simeone.
#4 Chinese Super League
With a recent Olympic gold medal, Dani Alves added another accolade to his already stacked trophy cabinet. The seasoned defender has witnessed almost everything in his 20-year long career, spending most of it on top of European football.
Henceforth, a change in the usual course could prove to be beneficial for Dani Alves. Ever since the Chinese Super League gained momentum in the late 2010s, players have flocked to the cash-laden league to make some easy money.
Having accomplished practically everything there is to achieve in club football, a brief hiatus in the Chinese Super League could help Dani Alves regain some form. This supposed vacation could be just what the unpredictable right-back needs before calling it quits on his footballing journey.
Also read: 5 superstars sold by Pep Guardiola
#3 Boca Juniors or River Plate
Having played for some of the biggest clubs in European football, Dani Alves added to his experience by joining Sao Paulo in the hotly contested Brazilian top-flight. His two years at the club were sensational, considering Alves' growing age.
After plying his trade at almost every so-called footballing hub, Dani Alves is yet to play in the Argentinian top-flight. Considering the passion and talent involved in the Argentine Primera Division, it is only natural that a man with Alves' resume could be interested in exploring the league at least once in his career.
As destiny would have it, the flamboyant defender has been linked with two of the biggest clubs on the sub-continent. Reportedly, Boca Juniors and River Plate are both interested in bringing Dani Alves in following his unexpected exit from Sao Paulo. With two possible destinations to choose from, the 38-year-old Brazilian could have a blast if he chooses to relocate to Argentina.
#2 Al Sadd SC
Another possible trajectory that Dani Alves could follow is to relocate to a Middle Eastern country. In recent times, numerous well-known footballers have chosen a similar path in the twilight of their careers. Lately, both Toby Alderweireld and Javi Martinez decided to swap Europe for Qatar to spend their latter years in a less competitive environment.
Considering the kind of payment rolled out by the Qatari and Arabian clubs, players like Dani Alves are ideal candidates for their leagues. The Brazilian will substantially add to the star power of the said top-flights, generating larger revenue, which in turn helps players like him pocket huge sums of money.
With his former teammate Xavi flourishing in the Qatari league as a coach, Dani Alves has the option to link up with him and take part in his ongoing revolution. Under Xavi's guidance, Al Sadd have gained a lot of ground in recent times. With a project under development, the Spaniard will probably welcome the addition of Dani Alves with open arms.
#1 Barcelona
At the time of writing, Barcelona are struggling to keep up with other elite level clubs in Europe. The Blaugrana looked completely out of their depth in a 3-0 battering at the hands of Bayern Munich in their own backyard. As a result, they are in dire need of some reliable personnel.
Considering their non-existent depth at the full-back positions, capturing Dani Alves wouldn't be the worst piece of business by the Spanish giants. In fact, his signing could provide Barcelona with some much-needed experience and stability over a short-term period.
Having won everything there is to win in club football during his initial stint with the Catalans, Dani Alves will definitely be a welcome addition at Camp Nou. With Sergi Roberto blatantly showing signs of decline and Sergino Dest still not quite ready, Dani Alves' return could prove to be fruitful for both concerned parties.
It's been a year of several reunions across Europe and Dani Alves certainly wouldn't mind adding to it.
Also read: 5 superstars sold by Jose Mourinho
