Dani Alves

Brazil head coach Tite has revealed that he could not utilise the services of Fred at the World Cup after the midfielder failed to completely recover from an ankle problem. The 25-year-old sustained the damage after a rash tackle from Casemiro leading into the tournament and despite remaining with the squad, he could not garner a single minute on the playing field.

Speaking after the Belgium defeat, Tite confirmed that Fred could not participate at the World Cup after he failed to make a complete recovery from the problem, he said: “Fred had a problem with his injury and failed to make a full recovery. In general and physical terms, the team flew. It was not the physical aspect that was decisive in defeat.”

Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Ander Ter Stegen has sent a classy message to former teammate Dani Alves after the Brazilian was ruled out of the summer World Cup. Alves sustained anterior cruciate ligament damage to his right knee during the Coupe de France final for Paris Saint-Germain and the club have now confirmed that he will be out for the long-term with a surgery required.

As such, a number of current and former players have shown their sympathy towards the Brazil international and Ter Stegen did the same on Twitter, posting: “Not just football will miss you at the @FIFAWorldCup , also your good crazy mood @DaniAlvesD2 ! There’s never a good time to get injured, but keep your head high + positive mind as you always do. You will be back in no time to keep lifting trophies!”

Paris Saint-Germain defender Dani Alves has revealed that he cried only one after it was known that he had suffered a long-term knee injury. The 35-year-old had been dreaming of winning the World Cup with Brazil this summer but unfortunately, he would be playing no part after the doctors confirmed that he would require a surgery to rectify the problem.

In a report on the Players’ Tribune, he said: “I only cried one time, when I was by myself. And let me tell you something — I don’t want anybody to cry for me. I don’t want anybody to feel sorry for me. I have lived my dreams.I don’t consider myself a veteran. As you can see, my spirit is about 13 years old. Who knows, maybe when the 2022 World Cup comes around, I will still be competing for a place on the team. My body will be 39, but my spirit will have only turned 17.”

Paris Saint-Germain defender Dani Alves has played down the ongoing speculation linking him with a return to Barcelona during the summer. The 34-year-old recently suggested that Barcelona is his home and this spread speculation of him making a comeback after a couple of years away from the Camp Nou.

However, in an Instagram post, Alves was clear to re-clarify his statement, he penned: “Me going back to Barcelona? Calm down, my friends! I know that you miss me, and that life without 'Good Crazy' is difficult, and that AS, Marca, and Central Lechera also miss me.

Dani Alves has praised compatriot Philippe Coutinho following Brazil’s 3-0 win over Russia in an international friendly. The Barcelona attacker score his ninth goal for the country in the fixture, and following the game, Alves was full of praise for the attacker, whom he compared to close friend and teammate Neymar.

Speaking after the match, Alves said: “I think that Coutinho is a player who is on the same level as Ney, he has a massive influence on our game and in his teams. When he was in Liverpool and now in Barca, he has improved a lot and learned to read the game better, to make the right decisions.That is great to see, to play with such a good footballer who has that ability. There are others who are similar. We are lucky to play with great players and have them on our side is fantastic. We have to get the best out of them and build a solid team.”

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta has responded to the ongoing speculation linking Neymar with a potential move to arch-rivals Real Madrid in the summer. The Brazil international only joined Paris Saint-Germain from Barca on a world-record deal in August, but talks have intensified over his future amid reports of unrest at the French capital.

Speaking ahead of Spain’s international friendly against Germany, Iniesta was quizzed about the Neymar situation to which he replied: “The truth is that the future of Neymar is not something I'm thinking about. Normally, when you leave a place, it's hard to come back, which is why I would be more surprised if Neymar returned to go to another team, but we'll see. If he signed, Madrid would sign one of the best in the world, but we - Barca - will continue with a template that I can better.”

Paris Saint-Germain defender Dani Alves has insisted that Neymar had to cut his ties with Barcelona in order to enhance his chances of claiming individual honours. The Brazil international is rated as one among the world's best, and Alves believes his compatriot played in the shadows of Lionel Messi at the Camp Nou.

In a report covered by The Mirror, Alves said: "I think Neymar is up there with Lionel as the most influential player in world football. I think you have got a better chance of achieving things individually when you are not so close to a player like him."

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Javier Pastore has refuted claims that he is considering a potential exit from Parc des Princes this month. The Argentina international has been heavily tipped to leave the Capital outfit this term with Inter Milan leading the hunt for his services.

Les Parisiens skipper Thiago Silva recently hinted that the midfielder could push for a move elsewhere, but the Argentina has now come clear with the gossip stressing that he would love to end his professional career with the Ligue 1 outfit.

Brazil international Dani Alves has revealed that he was on the cusp of joining Liverpool back in the summer of 2006, but the deal fell through at the final hurdle. The Reds had just won the Champions League crown under Rafael Benitez, and Alves was tipped to join them from Sevilla, only for the deal to be called off.

He told FourFourTwo: "I pretty much had an agreement with Liverpool. But for whatever reason, it didn’t happen at the last moment and I really don’t know why, as I wasn’t the one conducting the negotiations. I had other people representing me back then."

Paris Saint-Germain right-back Thomas Meunier has revealed that he knocked back advances from Chelsea despite facing competition from Dani Alves for the right-back spot. The Belgium international had expected competition from a new signing in the summer but was surprised by the club's decision to sign Dani Alves on a free transfer.

Speaking with Eleven Sports, he said, "I was expecting the arrival of a right-back but not that of Dani. I did not know what to think. Was I only going to be a substitute? I could have left for Chelsea on the final day of the summer transfer window but I did not."