Is Dani Alves the Type of Player AC Milan's Resurgence Requires?
Fresh from winning the treble with Barcelona, Dani Alves is already looking for greener pastures—not necessarily in terms of his club, but individually.
After Barca won the 2014/15 Champions League final vs. Juventus, the Brazilian right-back, as Sky Sports noted, told Sky Italia: "It would be a pleasure to join Milan. There is a proposal from Italy, and I will evaluate all the alternatives before deciding."
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Alves is out of contract with the Catalan giants and seems destined to leave the Camp Nou when his deal ends on 30 June.
Playing 46 matches in a treble-winning side, one might think the 32-year-old would stay with Barcelona, but, as taken from ESPN FC, Alves told reporters: "I want to stay, but not at any price—it's not about money, it's about respect. I've done a lot for this club and yet I can tell that I am not respected."
Considering Barcelona announced the signing of Sevilla right-back Aleix Vidal on 7 June (ironically the same club Alves played for before making the move to Catalonia), their long-serving Brazilian's fate looks sealed—no matter the rhetoric—with AC Milan proving his preferred destination.
The Spanish champions paid £23 million for Alves' services in 2008, as the Daily Mail's Joe Strange suggests, and have been rewarded with an excellent attacking defender. Now 32, there are a few seasons left in Alves, so his being available on a free transfer has sparked interest around Europe.
The Brazilian has graced the world's largest stage at the World Cup, taken part in countless UEFA Champions League games, played in the biggest domestic clash in world football in El Clasico and is highly decorated. But is Alves a piece the Italian giants need?
Since AC Milan's 2010/11 Serie A triumph, the Italian club has gone from champions, to runners-up, to third, to eighth and now 10th in consecutive seasons. Over a 15-year span from 1999/00 to 2013/14, the Rossoneri played in European competition every season, but the past two campaigns have seen Milan nosedive towards Italy's domestic basement.
Silvio Berlusconi's money has dried, and so with it the trophy-laden days of yesteryear. It was announced Thai businessman Bee Taechaubol purchased a 48 percent stake in the club on 6 June, so with this partial sale comes hope; but wise spending is the key to success, not necessarily spending.
Sky Sport's report announced Milan will compete with Manchester United for the right-back's signature. With the Rossoneri in seeming pole position, the question arrives: Does the San Siro's red half need to pursue footballers like Alves—ones with their best days behind them, looking for one last payday?
Ideally, no.
The likes of Ignazio Abate and Mattia De Sciglio are already in Milan's squad as right-back options. While Alves is better in the short term, the 28-year-old Abate—who, as Football Italia reported (h/t Daily Express' Bruce Archer), may be receiving a three-year contract extension—and 22-year-old De Sciglio look to be smarter long-term investments.
But there is something about the allure of "free," however dangerous. If one gets a motivated Alves, he helps your team immensely for at best three seasons. If one receives an uninterested Alves, though, you risk creating even more issues.
If change is to happen in Milan, it starts with perfecting Berlusconi's ledgers. The Rossoneri employ over 50 players before some contracts end on 30 June; sorting their books and allowing players to leave and/or sell dead weight would help newly appointed manager Sinisa Mihajlovic identify areas of need.
Alves is a player with a reputation. He comes highly touted but long in the tooth. Were he under contract and Barcelona was asking for around £10 million, there would be red flags and a minefield protecting Milan from making inquiries, but the nature of free transfers makes the Brazilian desirable.
If free, world-class players want to play for the Rossoneri, who would Milan be to dismiss them after a 10th place finish in 2014/15?
What cannot begin, however, is older players seeing the San Siro as a retirement destination.
The ultimate goal is bringing the red and black stripes of AC Milan back to European prominence—and that is done with footballers in their prime playing to their full potential.
Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase where not noted.
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