Barcelona Transfer News: Dani Alves Doubts over Juventus Move Amid PSG Rumours

Barcelona full-back Dani Alves could reportedly be tempted by a move to Paris Saint-Germain this summer despite strong links to Juventus.

That’s according to Mundo Deportivo (h/t Football Espana), who have previously reported that Alves had agreed terms with the Serie A giants. Now it’s suggested PSG’s longstanding interest in the player, plus the amount of Brazilians they have in their squad, is planting doubts in the mind of the 33-year-old.

Per the piece, it’s noted that Alves was a target for the French champions last summer before he opted to stay at Barcelona. The Blaugrana have confirmed that the full-back will depart ahead of the next campaign, bringing an end to an eight-year stint at the Camp Nou.

Although Alves is no longer quite as relentless in his forays on the right-hand side as he once was, he’s still an exceptional player. Here is a glimpse at what he can bring to his new employers:

While his aggressive playing style makes the Brazilian an extremely obvious threat, the impact the defender has had on Barcelona’s recent dominance has arguably been understated.

During both the the halcyon days of Pep Guardiola’s tenure and the more recent successes enjoyed by manager Luis Enrique, Alves has been a persistent presence. While the triumvirate of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi have been hailed, the full-back’s energy, positional discipline and attacking effectiveness allowed them room to play.

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Needless to say, Alves enjoyed his wonderful spell at the Camp Nou, although as we can see here courtesy of Bleacher Report UK, he’s recognised now is the right time to move on:

Now comes the battle to bring him in. And despite age slowly starting to catch up with this fine player, it’s no surprise that there are illustrious teams in the hunt.

Choosing between Juventus and PSG would be tough for Alves as well, as they each have pretty similar aims overall. Both have been dominant in their domestic divisions, with the Italians having won five titles in a row and the French outfit with four in succession. What both teams will be looking to do is make a bigger impression in the UEFA Champions League.

It’s a competition that Alves has won on three occasions with Barcelona, and that winning mentality could be crucial to either.

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Juventus seemed to move first this summer for the player, and as BT Sport’s James Horncastle noted recently, the Italians have excelled when picking up players for nothing in recent seasons:

But the chance to play alongside David Luiz, Lucas Moura, Maxwell and Thiago Silva must be appealing for Alves. Additionally, the Parisians will be without talismanic forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic next season, and the supporters will be looking for a big name to drive the team on. It’s a role the veteran might feel capable of fulfilling, even as a full-back.

It’s an important decision for Alves, as this is likely to be his last stint with a major club in Europe. Having established himself as the best full-back in world football during his spell with Barcelona, helping one of PSG or Juventus go all the way in the continent’s premier club competition would be an excellent way to rubber stamp his legacy.