Alves wants Messi back at Barcelona

Dani Alves has expressed his desire to see Lionel Messi return to Barcelona from Paris Saint-Germain.

Alves told the Catalan giants to “take care of it” and give his ex-team-mate a “great gift”.

Messi earned a place among football’s all-time greats during his 20-year stay at Barcelona, which came to an abrupt end last summer as the club were unable to tie him to a new contract due to La Liga wage restrictions.

The Argentine, who won multiple Spanish titles and Champions League crowns at Camp Nou while also becoming the Blaugrana’s all-time top scorer, subsequently joined PSG on a free transfer, but Alves believes he can be convinced to retrace his steps.

Alves re-joined Barca after five-and-a-half years away, but said ”the atmosphere behind the scenes was not the same without Messi.”

The Brazilian full-back has urged the club to bring back the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner so that he can see out his illustrious career in familiar surroundings, saying; “Messi is the best player in the history of football. It’s strange to be here and not see him, to not have him in the squad.”

He said; “Sometimes things don’t happen as we dream. I already told him that he is not going to be in any better place than here.  “He told me the same when I left. It would be very good if Messi finishes his career here. Finishing it here would be a great gift for him, and the club could take care of it.”

THE NATION/Mercy Chukwudiebere