Dani Alves won’t be joining any club until 2022

Dani Alves has announced that he will not be joining any club until the end of the year, after leaving Sao Paulo earlier this month. The player and the club had to part ways due to financial issues that Sao Paulo had to deal with.

Alves was owed around €2 million in wages, which were not being met due to the pandemic hindering revenue sources. The player ultimately decided to part ways after matters reached a breaking point in terms of the financial situation. The veteran will remain a free agent for the rest of the season in Brazil, and will return to football next year. He has explicitly stated that he is not retiring from football, and will be back. 

The former Barcelona right-back is the most decorated player in the history of football, with 43 titles throughout his career. Most recently, he was the captain of the Brazil Olympics team as they bagged the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, defeating Spain in the finals of the tournament. 

“I came to Brazil for a childhood dream, and the dream came true. Being champion with the club of your heart is priceless,” he wrote, before adding: “It’s not about money, it’s about values, it’s about honesty, it’s about character, it’s about legacy.”

The 38-year-old had four official proposals on the table if he wanted to play, and also attracted interest from other Brazilian clubs such as Fluminense and Flamengo. However, he has made his decision clear and we will see the veteran on the other side of the new year.