Barcelona right back Dani Alves. (Photo : Getty Images)
Barcelona defender Dani Alves is rumored to be headed to a Camp Nou exit this summer after he allegedly signed a two-year contract with Italian Serie A champions Juventus on Wednesday.
Caught Offside cited local Spanish media outlet Cadena Ser as the source of the rumors saying that the 33-year-old Brazilian right back "had agreed a two-year deal with the Turin giants as his time at the Nou Camp is seemingly drawing to a close".
However, the report clarified that according to Alves' agent, Dinorah Santana, no "agreement has been reached" between her client and the recent Scudetto winners although she admitted that negotiations have already started.
"It's true that Juventus have contacted me," said Santana. "But there hasn't been any official offer from the Bianconeri."
"There's an interest in Dani and obviously Juve aren't the only club that are following him attentively. The clause? I can't reveal the details of the agreement with Barcelona, that's confidential. Anything could happen, absolutely," the agent added.
Alves has been an integral part of Barcelona's back field for eight years now. He was acquired by Barça in the summer of 2008 from fellow La Liga squad Sevilla for a transfer fee of €90 million, making him the world's most expensive defender at that time.
He had appeared in a total of 391 games in all competitions during the eight seasons he had been so far with the Blaugrana and had scored 21 goals in the process as one of the club's chief defenders.
There are speculations that Barça is indeed searching for a buyer for Alves as his advancing age and "waning influence" in what Luis Enrique believes is a "key position" in his defensive scheme is making the club turn their heads and look elsewhere.
The report also noted that "the Catalan giants could be forced into searching for a long-term successor for the Brazilian international sooner rather than later".
Santana also told ESPN that the rumors about Alves are "not true" and that her client "has not settled anything with anyone and right now he is in Brazil and his main focus is on preparing with the national team".
She also disclosed that talks were also made with several Turkish squads, one English club, and one French team, other than Juve.
"There is no type of offer, we have nothing to evaluate. If there had been any type of offer first we would have to evaluate it and then if it seems to me a reasonable offer, I would mention it to Dani," she ended.
