Barcelona Transfer News: PSG No Longer Interested in Dani Alves

Paris Saint-Germain have pulled out of the race to sign Barcelona right-back Dani Alves at the end of the season, taking one of the most talked-about transfer destinations for the impending free agent out of the equation.

As reported by French newspaper L'Equipe (via Sport), Les Parisiens see Marquinhos as their top option at right-back, and the club has decided to no longer pursue compatriot Alves. L'Equipe (via Football Espana) quotes club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi as saying: “PSG were interested in [Dani] Alves for a long time, but we aren’t anymore."

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Alves, who will turn 32 before the end of the season, has been Barcelona's first-choice right-back for years, and with his contract set to run out at the end of the current campaign, it's unclear whether the Brazil international will return to the Blaugrana next year.

His team-mates have been nothing but supportive of Alves and want to see him return, with Gerard Pique even calling him the single best right-back the club has ever fielded, via Goal's Twitter account:

But while the players push to keep Alves around, the club board seems less inclined to hand the veteran a large contract. Negotiations have been ongoing for months, via the Daily Mirror's Ed Malyon, with both parties seemingly failing to find any common ground.

Barcelona's transfer embargo means the club wouldn't be able to attract a high-profile replacement for Alves should he leave, adding yet another layer to the situation. According to Spanish newspaper Marca (h/t Barcastuff), Luis Enrique would even be willing to hand the position over to winger Pedro:

"

Luis Enrique is considering to play Pedro at right back, where he would replace Dani Alves, whose contract expires, next season. [marca]

— barcastuff (@barcastuff) March 31, 2015"

It's still possible Alves stays with the Catalans for at least another season, but with less than six months left on his deal, competitors are free to make offers of their own.

The media have no idea where the full-back will end up, either, leading to awkward moments such as this when the defender recently returned from international duty:

PSG were seen as one of the favourites to steal Alves away from Barcelona, so the news of the French champions changing their plans is something the Blaugrana will love to hear.

More clubs will come knocking, however, so this saga seems far from over.

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