Daniel Alves

Daniel Alves da Silva (born May 6, 1983 in Juazeiro), known as Dani Alves, is a Brazilian association football who plays as an attacking Association football positions Full back or Association football positions Wide midfielder for FC Barcelona in the Spanish La Liga.

Club career

Sevilla

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

In December 2006, Alves signed a new contract with Sevilla, tying him to the club until 2012.He had a successful La Liga 2006-07, making 47 appearances and scoring 5 goals. He also played in every one of Sevilla's UEFA Cup 2006-07 matches which the club went on to win.

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

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

On August 16, 2007, Sevilla rejected an unspecified Chelsea bid and, six days later, rejected another two bids from Chelsea for Alves, considering them to be "way below what was expected". Alves later revealed his dismay with Sevilla president José María Del Nido for having knocked back Chelsea's offers for his services after his 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 Alves and Del Nido,Alves set to stay at Seville after the death of team mate Antonio Puerta, with player and president appearing reconciled.

Barcelona

On July 2, 2008, Alves joined FC Barcelona. He left Sevilla in tears and said that he would love to join the club again. He said that he came to Sevilla as a boy and is now leaving as man. He broke down in tears at the press conference. The official price of the transfer stands at Euro29 million up front, with €6 million more to pay depending on a number of performance related factors over the next few seasons of Alves' Barcelona career, making Alves the world's most expensive right-back.
Alves signed a four-year contract with Barcelona, that includes a buy-out clause of €90 million. As of August 8, Alves was the most expensive player in the Summer 2008 tranfer window, but this record was then broken when Real Madrid forward Robinho opted to go to Manchester City FC on deadline day, for a fee of around €40 million.
Alves made his competitive and European debuts for Barcelona against Wisła Kraków in the 3rd round qualifiers of the 2008 Champions League on August 13 2008. He then made his La Liga debut in the season-opener away to CD Numancia on August 31 2008 in a 1-0 loss.

International career

Alves earned his first cap with the Brazil national football team as a substitute in a friendly against Ecuador national football team on October 10, 2006. Three days later he made his full debut for Brazil in a friendly match against Kuwait club Al Kuwait Kaifan. On July 15, 2007, Alves gave an assist and scored a goal in the Copa América 2007 final against Argentina national football team, in a 3-0 success.

All-Time Club Statistics

As of August 30 2008

Honours

- Esporte Clube Bahia
- - Campeonato do Nordeste 2002

- Sevilla FC
- - UEFA Cup 2006, 2007
- - Copa del Rey 2007
- - UEFA Super Cup 2006
- - Spanish Super Cup 2007

- Brazil national football team
- - FIFA World Youth Championship 2003
- - Copa América 2007

Individual
- UEFA Cup Most Valuable Player 2006
- UEFA Super Cup Most Valuable Player 2006