(Football news) Xavi Hernandez’s first signing after returning to his boyhood club FC Barcelona has been the return of 38 year Dani Alves on a free transfer. The Brazilian spent eight years at the Blaugrana, winning a total of 23 titles which includes three Champions League titles, four Copa del Rey, three Fifa Club World Cups, three Spanish Super Cups, four European Super Cups and six La Liga titles.

A statement released by the club said “FC Barcelona and Dani Alves have reached an agreement in principle for the player to join the football first team for the remainder of the current season. The Brazilian will be joining training from next week but will not be able to play until January. The club will announce the full details at his official presentation as a new FC Barcelona player.”

Alves is the most decorated footballer in the history of the sport, winning a total of 43 competitive titles in his career so far and despite his advancing age, he played an important role in Brazil securing a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics, playing every minute of the tournament amounting to a mammoth 480 minutes of football.

There has been a lot of talk about Barcelona’s new manager Xavi Hernandez only having a transfer kitty of €10 million with the club still struggling with a financial crisis and long term contracts to Ansu Fati and Pedri have caused a further strain along with Koeman’s sacking and Xavi’s appointment. The inclusion of Dani Alves in the dressing room brings with it a wealth of experience of having achieved nearly all there is to win at the highest level and the 38 year old defender will be hoping to put up some impressive performances to find a place in Tite’s squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

Alves is expected to make his second debut for Barcelona on January 2nd against Mallorca in the La Liga.

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