Manchester City could move for Juventus defender Dani Alves as Pep Guardiola eyes reunion with former Barcelona full-back
- Transfer news: All the latest from around the world
- Dani Alves and Pep Guardiola have an excellent relationship from Barcelona
- The Brazilian is said to be keen on playing in England before he retires
- But his wage demands for a 34-year-old could prove a stumbling block
Dani Alves and Pep Guardiola could be reunited at Manchester City next season but only if the Brazil international makes himself available at the right price.
The former Barcelona right-back could have moved to City in the winter window but he cracked a bone in his lower leg in November and was out for two months.
Sportsmail understands friendly conversations were had – the player still has an excellent relationship with City’s Director of Football Txiki Beguiristain and with coach Guardiola.
Dani Alves could be reunited with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City next season
Alves is understood to still have an excellent relationship with City boss Guardiola
Alves, now at Juventus, working with Guardiola during their time at Barcelona in Spain
The injury made the move a non-starter but Alves wants to sample the Premier League before he retires and City have not completely ruled out bringing the most most-decorated player in Brazil’s history to England although they admit the stumbling block would be the player’s age and wage demands.
City will not come close to matching any lucrative China pay-day he could be offered between now and the end of the season.
Neither will they match the £120,000 a week two-year deal he was asking for when he left Barcelona at the end of last season.
The player will be 34 in May and will have a year left on his contract at the end of the season with the option of an extra season in Turin.
Alves scored for Juventus in their win over Porto last night and remains a force of nature despite his age but it will still take an economic commitment from him for City to bring him to the Etihad.
Guardiola is already planning for next season and believes he needs four more players along with a fit-again Jesus Gabriel and Ilkay Gundogan to make City strong enough to handle the challenge of winning the Premier Leauge and matching Europe’s finest in the Champions League.
Alves, 33, (left) is said to be keen on playing in England before he retires from playing
City will also weigh-up a potential move for Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin
Alves could be a surprise name in those four although the club will also weigh-up younger options. Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin remains the ideal fit but there is no expectation at the club that Arsenal would sell to a Premier League rival.
City delievered arguably their best Champions League performance on Tuesday and Guardiola has been buoyed by the fact that it came from a team largely made up of players he inherited – demonstrating individual players have pushed on since the summer.
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