Why Dani Alves Is the Most Frustrating Player in the Barcelona Squad

The extremes to which Dani Alves divides Barcelona supporters highlight his status as the club's most frustrating player.

Anyone who watched Alves play in the first half of last season and then again in the second half could be forgiven for thinking they were watching two different players.

And that's not just a comment on how Alves changes his fashion style so regularly that he must have a wardrobe bigger than Barcelona's trophy cabinet.

Alves' role in helping his side lift La Liga, UEFA Champions League and Copa del Rey hardware last season is further confirmation of his unpredictability.

If he played like he did between January and June for Barcelona all the time, there would be no question marks over him.

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

It's important to say that any doubts over Alves stem purely from some of his performances—not because of any other misgivings.

Alves is loved like he came through Barcelona's youth system, despite signing for the club from Sevilla in 2008.

They way he speaks so frankly and openly endears him to the club's supporters, with the most recent example being his press conference as he tried to get Barcelona to give him a new deal. Alves managed to explain his frustration with the club while simultaneously stating his commitment to the team itself.

Michael Probst/Associated Press

"I've had to put up with a lot this year and this is the reason why I'm speaking out. I feel a lack of respect and I have limits," he said, per Press Association (h/t the Daily Mail).

The fans appreciated his position, and the overall feeling in the city was one of delight when he put pen to paper on a new deal at the end of the season.

Alves had gone further still, crying as he told supporters at Camp Nou that he would always be one of them after the Champions League final win over Juventus, making it seem like he was certain to leave. Having lifted the treble, club president Josep Maria Bartomeu decided to surf the wave of goodwill and extend Alves' deal.

The 32-year-old agreed a two-year deal with the Catalan giants, but which Alves we will get next season remains to be seen.

Michael Probst/Associated Press

As Barcelona closed in on their three targets last season, Alves stepped up and delivered time and time again in big games, as his contract wound down.

But now that he is tied down, could his form drop again? With Martin Montoya off at Inter Milan, the only competition Alves has in the first half of the season is Douglas.

Barcelona have signed Aleix Vidal from Sevilla, and when he is eligible to play from January onwards, he will be more of a threat to Alves. Until then, the Barcelona defender may choose to coast, like he did at times under Tata Martino in 2013-14.

Manu Fernandez/Associated Press

Under the Argentine coach, Alves produced a lot of unsuccessful crosses, and that continued until Luis Enrique changed tack partway through the season.

Sport's Marti Perarnau explained how Alves played a lot smarter in the second half of the season.

In January, Luis Enrique began to make some modifications to the way Alves was asked to play. He now played in a more reduced area, where his runs were less frequent but more direct and just as dangerous.

Paul White/Associated Press

He played better and his all-round performance—in attack and defence—became much more effective.

On his day, Alves is unbeatable at the back and a truly exhilarating presence going forward. When he is not playing well, he is a danger to his side.

Opponents can exploit the gaps he leaves, and if Alves' crossing is out of sync, it can be dreadful.

Barcelona supporters will hope and expect the player who finished the season with them to turn up again in August, but from a detached perspective, it's impossible to predict whether he'll be at the top of his game or off it.

And that is what has made him the club's most frustrating player.