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#3 Xavi Hernandez - Dani Alves (Barcelona)
The 2021-22 season has seen an unusually high number of former teammates reuniting. Barcelona sacked manager Ronald Koeman early in the season and brought in former player Xavi Hernandez to replace him.
Xavi was not very pleased with the personnel he had at his disposal and asked the board to bring in reinforcements. Key among such signings was veteran right-back Dani Alves, who enjoyed his best years at Barcelona.
Xavi and Dani Alves were part of the Barcelona side that won two continental trebles together. Alves remained a free agent after the 2021-22 season had started and Xavi had his former teammate signed up.
The 38 year old had just won Olympic Gold with the Brazilian national team and there were clear indications that he still got what it takes to be playing at the highest level. Since joining Barcelona, Alves has provided two assists in four appearances across all competitions.
#2 Steven Gerrard - Philippe Coutinho (Aston Villa)
This is the latest high-profile reunion to have happened across Europe's top five leagues. Steven Gerrard enjoyed great success with Rangers before he was brought in by Aston Villa to replace Dean Smith. Gerrard has done a good job so far.
Philippe Coutinho had a great first stint in the Premier League with Liverpool and that went a long way towards making him a superstar in the world of football.
Barcelona made him one of their most expensive signings in 2018. However, Coutinho failed to replicate his Liverpool form at the Camp Nou and multiple injury issues hampered his progress.
Due to their financial woes, Barcelona had to offload Coutinho and Steven Gerrard pounced on the chance to sign his former teammate. The Brazilian repaid the faith his former teammate showed in him immediatey.
Coutinho scored and assisted a goal in his debut against Manchester United to help Aston Villa come back from 2-0 down to draw the game in the last 15 minutes. The reunion is still just two games old but this one has a lot of potential especially since we know how well Coutinho used to play in the Premier League in his prime.
#1 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer - Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
It was a reunion that Manchester United fans desperately wanted to happen. And it did. Once Cristiano Ronaldo left Juventus, Manchester United moved swiftly to bring him back to Old Trafford. Ronaldo returned to his former club to play under his former teammate who had now become the manager.
The Portuguese international got off to a flying start, bagging a brace in his second debut for Manchester United. He also produced multiple rescue acts in the Champions League to help keep Solskjaer in the job for a bit longer. But ultimately, the players were performing awfully and something had to give.
So Solskjaer was sacked despite his best intentions. But it was a reunion for the ages of two stars who had won one Premier League title, one FA Cup and one League Cup together.
