Pep Guardiola’s former Barcelona right back Dani Alves to join Manchester City?
Forget Pep and Messi. What about a Pep-Dani Alves reunion at Manchester City?
It’s not a mystery where on the pitch Manchester City needs to most improve for the next season: defense, specifically full back.
Internet rumors tossed an interesting new name into the mix — Dani Alves.
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The Manchester Evening News reports that the Brazilian right back desires to play in the Premier League before retiring.
In his prime, Alves was part of the core City boss Pep Guardiola presided over at Barcelona. Last summer, after spending eight years at the Camp Nou, he left for Juventus. MEN notes, however, he hasn’t been a regular starter in Milan, often sharing minutes with Stephan Lichtsteiner, another City transfer target.
However, as a substitute, Alves scored against Porto in the UEFA Champions League this week for a 2-0 Juventus win.
A reunion with Guardiola sounds like a match made in footballing heaven, but should it happen, there are drawbacks.
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Alves is 34 and currently older than any of the other aging full backs on the roster. He will also command high wages.
In that case, might it not be better to put that money to someone younger and long-term?
There’s an argument to be made that Alves could be a placeholder until that player is found. Already familiar with Guardiola and his tactics, he could serve as calming and mature influence in the dressing room while the Catalan continues his overhaul of City.
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But again at 34, Alves’ powers are diminishing. He’s already not the preferred right back at Juventus in Serie A, a league much less competitive than the EPL. How much use can he really be?
Therefore, perhaps it’s best to look for someone else to man right back.