Daniel Alves

Daniel Alves da Silva (born 6 May 1983 in Juazeiro), commonly known as Dani Alves, is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays as an attacking Association football positions Full back for Spain La Liga club FC Barcelona and the Brazil national football team. Before joining the Catalan giants, Alves spent a successful six year spell with Sevilla FC, winning two UEFA Cup and the Copa del Rey with the Andalusian side. Daniel Alves joined Barcelona for Euro29 million plus add-ons of €6 million, becoming the most expensive right-back in history, and won The Treble in Daniel Alves first season with the club.

Club career

Sevilla

After 2002-03, on loan to Sevilla FC from Esporte Clube Bahia, Dani Alves travelled to play in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship where Daniel Alves impressed as Brazil won the tournament. Daniel Alves was named as the third best player of the tournament and, after this, the Sevilla move was made permanent.

In June 2006, Sevilla had agreed to sell Dani Alves to Liverpool F.C., but they failed to match their asking price of around £8 million.
In December 2006, Daniel Alves signed a new contract with Sevilla, tying Daniel Alves to the club until 2012. Daniel Alves had a successful La Liga 2006-07, making 47 appearances and scoring five goals. Daniel Alves also played in every one of Sevilla's UEFA Cup 2006-07 matches which the club went on to win.

From Daniel Alves years in Spain, Daniel Alves also acquired Spain citizenship, thus allowing Daniel Alves to bypass any non-EU quota restrictions and exempting Daniel Alves from needing a work permit to play in any EU countries.

On 1 August 2007, Alves told Brazilian sports channel SporTV that Daniel Alves wanted to leave Sevilla for a European giant, later reiterating Daniel Alves desire to leave Sevilla to Spanish newspaper Marca, stating that Daniel Alves was flattered by Chelsea F.C.'s interest and that Daniel Alves could never turn down such an opportunity. In an interview with Spanish sports channel Antena 3 (Spain) on 8 August, Dani Alves confirmed that Daniel Alves agent had been in England for some time handling Chelsea's offer, urging Sevilla to at least consider the offer.

On 16 August 2007, Sevilla rejected an unspecified Chelsea bid and, six days later, rejected another two bids from Chelsea for Dani Alves, considering them to be "way below what was expected." Dani Alves later revealed Daniel Alves dismay with Sevilla president José María del Nido for having knocked back Chelsea's offers for Daniel Alves services after Daniel Alves move to Stamford Bridge (stadium) collapsed, with Chelsea signing fellow Brazilian full back Juliano Belletti for a much lower fee.

After a public war of words between Dani Alves and del Nido, Alves set to stay at Seville after the death of team mate Antonio Puerta, with player and president appearing reconciled.

FC Barcelona

On 2 July 2008, Alves joined FC Barcelona. Daniel Alves left Sevilla in tears and said that Daniel Alves would love to join the club again. Daniel Alves said that Daniel Alves came to Sevilla as a boy and is now leaving as a man, and later broke down in tears at the press conference. The official price of the transfer stands at Euro25 million up front, with €6 million more to pay depending on a number of performance related factors over the next few seasons of Dani Alves' Barcelona career, making Daniel Alves the world's most expensive right-back and the third most expensive player bought by Barça. Daniel Alves signed a four-year contract with Barcelona, that includes a buy-out clause of €90 million. As of 8 August, Daniel Alves was the most expensive player in the Summer 2008 transfer window, but this record was then broken when Real Madrid C.F. forward Robinho opted to go to Manchester City F.C. on deadline day, for a fee of around €40 million.

Dani Alves made Daniel Alves competitive and European debuts for Barcelona against Wisła Kraków in the 3rd round qualifiers of the 2008 UEFA Champions League on 13 August 2008. Daniel Alves made Daniel Alves La Liga debut in the season-opener away to CD Numancia on 31 August 2008. Dani Alves missed the 2009 UEFA Champions League Final due to a yellow-card suspension; Barcelona beat Manchester United F.C. 2-0 and thus completed The Treble.

International career

Dani Alves made Daniel Alves Brazil national football team debut as a substitute in an unofficial friendly match against Kuwait club Al Kuwait Kaifan on 7 October 2006. Three days later, Daniel Alves earned Daniel Alves first international Cap (sport) in a friendly against Ecuador national football team. Daniel Alves was included in Brazil's team for the Copa América 2007. Daniel Alves appeared in four matches including the final against Argentina national football team, where Daniel Alves gave an assist and scored a goal in a 3-0 victory. Despite being the most expensive right-back in history, Daniel Alves has not been able to hold down a regular starting spot in the national team with Maicon Douglas Sisenando being the first choice when available. Dani Alves came on as a substitute in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup semi-final against South Africa National Football Team and scored the winner, a free-kick and a traditional Brazilian full back goal in the style of Roberto Carlos (footballer) in the 88th minute in a 1-0 win.