When you're approaching your mid 30s as a full-back, chances are not too many managers are willing to take a gamble on you. And most of the time, they'd be correct not to.
The last thing any coach wants to do is entrust an ageing defender with the task of halting wingers a decade or more younger than them week in, week out. It's borderline tactical suicide.
Not, however, if the full-back's name happens to be Dani Alves.
Alves has been sorely missed at the Camp Nou, this season. Image: PA
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The Brazilian right-back has produced some of his finest form since swapping Barcelona for Juventus, last Summer. The 34-year-old has not only helped Juve to the top of Serie A, but his phenomenal performances in Europe have propelled the Bianconeri into their second Champions League final in three years.
Last night the former Barca man assisted Mario Mandzukic's opening goal in the 2-1 defeat of Monaco at the Juventus Stadium before doubling Juve's lead with a stunning 25-yard volley.
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The quality of the 34-year-old's displays have left many people wondering why he was allowed to leave Camp Nou in the first place.
Alves himself revealed to FIFA.com in April that circumstances at Barca dictated his departure, as the club was no longer the same.
"I have to say that I didn't feel as comfortable anymore at Barca.
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"Things changed at a club level, and as time went on, I always seemed to be the one in the firing line.
"'Dani's the one who has to go', they'd say. I just got tired of it. I decided to head off in a new direction and find happiness somewhere else."
Now though, Marca are reporting that Barca actually had the chance to re-sign the Brazilian during the January transfer window.
With Sergi Roberto and Aleix Vidal both struggling to impress in Alves' absence, the opportunity presented itself for the Blaugrana to bring the former Sevilla man back to Catalonia.
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Will Alves be lifting this trophy in Juventus colours in Cardiff on 3rd June? Image: PA
Only, they weren't interested.
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That's right. Apparently no one at Barcelona was remotely arsed in seeing Alves return to the club where he could shore up a wobbly defence that has been one of the main reasons for the shortcomings of Luis Enrique's men during the current campaign.
Then again, Alves could still yet make Barca fans extremely happy should he help Juventus lift their third European Cup at the expense of likely Champions League final opponents and Real Madrid in Cardiff on 3rd June.
(H/T Give Me Sport)
Topics: Dani Alves, FC Barcelona, Football, Juventus
