Dani Alves wouldn't have re-joined Barcelona if Josep Maria Bartomeu was still there

Barcelona veteran Dani Alves has revealed that he would not have returned to Camp Nou had former president Josep Maria Bartomeu still been in charge.

Alves re-signed for Barça in November on a short-term deal until the end of the season and will soon be eligible to make his second debut for the club – once he has shaken off a bout of Covid-19.

The 38-year-old, who left the club in 2016 after eight years and went on to play for Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Sau Paulo before returning, saw an opportunity to help out his old team and make up the numbers in the squad.

Alves even admitted to pestering initially hesitant president Joan Laporta to allow it to happen. And he has now stated that he wouldn’t have wanted to return for Bartomeu, whose regime was responsible for overseeing the club’s shocking financial decline.

"I would not have accepted an offer from him," Alves told Qatari broadcaster Alkass Sports Channels. "I left when he was president and there was no point in working with him again."

"I had the feeling that I would return to Barcelona, and although a lot of people thought it was weird, I'm back," he added.

Alves first joined Barça from Sevilla back in 2008 towards the end of Laporta’s first presidency. He has faith the current chief will restore the club back to its former glory.

"We have to work to rebuild a great Barcelona, and for this we need stability and solidarity. Laporta will rebuild the club again, and with his return stability will return. We are happy to have him with us,” the player explained.

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