Juventus' Dani Alves explains why he had to leave Barcelona
Dani Alves was presented as a Juventus player on Tuesday. The former Barcelona defender, who signed his new contract on Monday, gave a press conference in front of the Italian media and explained his decision to unexpectedly leave Camp Nou.
“There was no exact moment when I took the decision. Barça are a team with an incredible history. I considered myself privileged to have formed part of that. But all stories have an end and each person must decide when that it is. I wanted to write my own history. I wanted to be the person that decided when my era with Barça came to an end,” he said, aware that his form in recent seasons had been questioned and that the club had looked for replacements.
According to Alves, signing for Juventus provides him with a new personal challenge. “I have come with the excitement of being able to reinvent myself, I don’t always want to do the same thing. I’m grateful to Juve for giving me the opportunity to experience this - we’re going to have fun,” he added.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
The right-back wasn’t holding back in his presentation. He assured that the objective is to win the Champions League. “We know the Champions League is a tough objective and so is the tournament. We'll have to work hard, and we most certainly will,” he explained.
“We'll make sure this team can make history again, as it's been too long. I'll do my best, I've come here to do what I can according to my qualities and my characteristics. I want to make the fans happy and give them the great joy of the Champions League.”
SHIRT 23: LEBRON JAMES
Alves, whose last number at Barcelona was the No.6 shirt in honour of Xavi, will wear the No.23 as a nod towards basketball player Lebron James in Turin.
“I identify with him because he’s reinvented himself and got back to winning ways. I’m also changing my team, city, country and type of football and I have to reinvent myself,” the player said.
POGBA AND DYBALA
Dani Alves, save any surprises in the transfer market, will have two of Europe’s most in-demand players alongside him: Paul Pogba and Paulo Dybala.
He thinks Pogba is a great player and said it will be an honour to play alongside him, along with several other first team players at the club. He also revealed that he identifies with the French midfielder “because we have a similar philosophy in life and we both see our profession as something to be enjoyed, with responsibility and our heads on our shoulders.”
On Dybala, he added: “I’m here to lend him and everybody else a hand. If I can get him and everyone to score many goals, that'll be my pleasure. I'll do everything I can to make that happen.”
