Dani Alves is disappointed at how his departure from Barcelona was handled and has taken aim at the general everyday running of the club, claiming that those in power “don’t care about the people who made history”. The veteran Brazilian full-back returned to Camp Nou for a second spell late last year, but is a free agent again after making just 17 appearances.
He enjoyed every minute of his time in Catalunya, but feels his exit could have been communicated better and believes there is a lot of work to be done on and off the field in order for the Spanish giants to reclaim their standing at the top of domestic and European football.
The South American defender was only ever intended to be a short-term option for former team-mate Xavi and has no issue at being let go as a younger generation seeks to follow in his illustrious footsteps.
He does, however, have concerns regarding the direction in which Barca are heading as a collective, telling The Guardian: “I didn’t leave sad. I left happy to have returned to Barcelona. I dreamed for five years wanting to live this second moment. The only thing I didn’t like was how my departure was handled.
“Since I arrived, I made it very clear that I wasn’t any more a 20-year-old guy and that I wanted things to be done head-on, without hiding things. But this club has sinned in recent years. Barcelona don’t care about the people who made history for the club.
“As a cule, I would like Barcelona to do things differently. I’m not talking about myself because my situation was another scenario. I am eternally grateful to Xavi and the president for bringing me back.
“I found a club full of young people with incredible ideas on the pitch. But it needs to improve the work outside the field. The mindset is totally opposite to what we built a few years ago. Everything that happens on the field is a reflection of what happens outside.
“I’m supporting for Barcelona to come back to the top, but it’s super-complicated. Football is more balanced, it’s a collective game. And that has been left out at the club.”
