Barcelona: Dani Alves’ new deal and the right-back conundrum

Barcelona wing-back Dani Alves has signed a new two year deal, with an option for a third year, which will see the Brazilian remain at the Camp Nou until at least the summer of 2017.

The 32-year-old’s future had become subject to transfer speculation in recent weeks, with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United all reportedly keen on the defender’s signature.

Since the Champions League final, the Catalands had made it known that they had already offered Alves a new contract, with president Josep Marie Bartomeu telling TV3: “”Alves has had an offer on the table for weeks. He has an offer for two years, plus one more, and he will decide what he will do. There is not much for us to decide.”

Alves himself, also remained coy on his future at the club, telling reporters that he would be interested in a move to AC Milan.

Nevertheless, Barcelona have announced that Alves will remain with the club, which comes just a day after Aleix Vidal was officially unveiled.

“FC Barcelona has announced that Dani Alves has accepted its proposal for the renewal of his contract, which expires on June 30 of this year,” the statement read.

“The new agreement binding both parties will be for a further two seasons, through to 30 June 2017, with the option of a third additional season.”

The new deal means that Alves will be staying at the club for his eighth season, after joining from Sevilla back in 2008.

The defender has played 343 Barca games, the most of any foreigner at the club19 titles break down as follows 5 Ligas, 3 Champions Leagues, 3 Spanish Cups, 2 European Super Cups, 4 Spanish Super Cups and 2 Club World Cups.

The right-back conundrum

Alves’s signing is, of course, welcome news to the club, and should, if anything question the club’s decision making on the issue.

After having the chance to re-sign him last summer, with one year remaining on his contract, Barcelona, surprisingly, refused to heed to the Brazilian’s demands.  The demand for an €11m (£8m) per year wage – and he wanted a three-year deal – were seen as too high and quite short sighted.

Instead, quite bizarrely, Andoni Zubizarreta moved to sign little known Brazilian Douglas, who, so far, has even failed to establish himself on the bench.

While, at the beginning of last season, many thought Alves was past his prime, the flamboyant wing-back proved his doubters wrong. If anything, he played a critical role in Barcelona’s treble-winning season.

More from Playing for 90

• Alexia Putellas reaches 400 games with Barcelona
• Everything you need to know ahead of the 250th ‘Super Clásico’
• Barcelona put five past Real Betis
• Manchester City suffer but come away with win over West Ham
• Baffling Liga MX ruling strips Puebla of a hard-earned victory

Not only has Alves developed some sort of telepathic relationship with Messi down the right-flank, which in many instances, has seen the pair cut through opposition defences, the Brazilian defender has become somewhat of a defensive stalwart.

While he still maintains his aggressive runs into the final third, he has made sure that those are not done regularly and has thwarted many of the top attackers this season.

Look no further than his performance against Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final, where he made crucial interceptions, read the play well with important tackles and did well to track back after an attack with pace to halt the opposition’s advancement.

Season 2013-14 may have been patchy at best, but 2014-15 saw him roll back the years. His absence from the Brazil set-up for the Copa America should mean that he’s ready to get on with the job next season.

Yet, his re-signing means that Montoya, who has long been touted to leave the club, will probably be forced out of the club, especially given that Aleix Vidal will probably take on a more important role at the club alongside Alves, chances are, Montoya will be forced out of his boyhood club.

Montoya, of course, has been viewed, for a while, as the rightful replacement of Dani Alves, and for the past few seasons, sections of Barcelona’s faithful have viewed him as a much better alternative.

The Spanish international, is by no means, young. At 24, there is not doubt that Montoya not only has the potential, but should be, playing regular football at a top club in Europe. And the last few years waiting on the bench for his opportunity has stunted his development. And for him to stay on at the club which Enrique will be hesitant to change a winning formula would be suicidal.

Meanwhile, chances for Vidal might be few and far between as well. The past season has seen Alves return to form and fitness, and for Vidal to dethrone him would practically be mission impossible.

And the fact remains, defensively, Vidal is not nearly as solid as Alves. Indeed, as a natural right-winger, he scores more goals but, by comparison, his tackle success rate of 49% is below Alves’ of 53%. Considering the opposition that Alves has played against this season, there still is a difference in quality between the two.

Nevetheless, with Vidal not able to play until at least January 2016, Alves re-signing means that Enrique won’t have to worry about changing a formidable back-line. It’s business as usual at Barcelona.

Next: UEFA Champions League 2014/15 Season Awards