Dani Alves Reiterates Desire for Premier League Transfer Before Retirement

Paris Saint-Germain defender Dani Alves has said "it is not possible" that he'll finish his career before representing a Premier League club and opened the door to a future transfer to England's top flight. 

Alves told the Telegraph's Robert Dineen he felt the Premier League houses "the most amazing football in the world" and hinted at a possible post-playing post in England if he failed to make it there as a player:

"The idea that I might finish my career without going to the Premier League, it is not possible. For sure, this is the most amazing football in the world. First, because of the respect for the players from the fans, and then because of the passion on the pitch. If I can play, that would be perfect, but I will make it there one way or the other."

Alves, 36 in May, tore his right anterior cruciate ligament last season and is yet to make an appearance for PSG in this, his second campaign at the Parc des Princes.

The issue for him in seeking out Premier League employment is that interest could be short given his age and the wages he's likely to be on—or at least short among the kind of clubs he'd presumably want to join.

There have been links between Alves and England before. Simon Phillips of the Telegraph recently elaborated on past speculation associating him with a move to west London when he was still at Sevilla:

Alves' PSG side were 3-2 losers at Anfield in September, and English giants Liverpool are responsible for the French titans' only defeat this term.

A three-time UEFA Champions League winner and six-time champion in La Liga with Barca, Alves appeared to suggest that some in Paris are perhaps naive to the challenge ahead of them: "I don't think PSG really understood what they were confronting when they faced Liverpool. It was like they didn't realise who they were playing."

The Brazilian recently spoke while advertising Take the Ball, Pass the Ball, a new documentary exploring Guardiola's successful tenure as Barcelona coach, and Alves applauded the mastermind, via Omnisport:

Alves went one step further outlining his enjoyment playing under Guardiola, via Goal's Sam Lee:

The veteran defender has a contract until the end of this season and doesn't look likely to extend that tenure given Thomas Meunier has been such a success down PSG's right flank in the meantime.

Writer Musa Okwonga profiled Alves for Tifo Football in 2017, praising him as one of the elite players to help evolve a position in the modern game:

Alves is primed to return to fitness and will have the chance to prove whether he's still got the talent to put potential Premier League employers on high alert before he becomes a free agent next summer.