Brazilian international Dani Alves, the soccer player with the most titles in history, said he will not play for any club for the remainder of 2021, following his surprise departure from Sao Paulo.
«I inform you that I chose not to sign with any club for the remainder of the year. I came to Brazil for a childhood dream, and the dream came true. Being a champion with the club of my heart is priceless, “wrote the footballer on his Instagram account.
Alves, 38, accompanied his writing with two labels in English in which he discards his retirement: #ITSNOTOVER and #IWILLBEBACK, which mean “It has not finished” and “I will return,” respectively.
The announcement puts an end to rumors that linked him to various Brazilian teams, such as Fluminense, Flamengo and Athletico Paranaense, after his abrupt departure from the São Paulo tricolor two weeks ago.
The transfer windows of the European leagues are already closed and that of Brazil closes this Friday, so the player had little chance of signing in minor leagues, such as the Arabs.
It’s not about money, it’s about values, it’s about manliness, it’s about character, IT’S ABOUT LEGACY. Difficult decisions need to be made, but, as always, in my life nothing has been easy. This is just one more decision, “he said.
Sao Paulo unexpectedly announced the defender’s departure on September 10 after he did not show up for training that day, after having participated with the ‘Seleção’ in the triple round of the South American World Cup that month.
The winger justified his absence due to unpaid millionaires from Sao Paulo, where he arrived in August 2019, after winning the Copa América held that year in Brazil.
With the club of his loves he raised the Paulista Championship last May, ending an eight-year tricolor drought without titles. And in August he won gold with Brazil at the Tokyo Olympics, getting his 43rd title.
The former Barcelona (ESP) and PSG (FRA) defender has said that he hopes to remain in competition to be taken into account by the coach of the Brazilian team, Tite, for the World Cup in Qatar-2022.
Tite revealed this Friday the list of summoned for the triple day of the South American World Cup in October, in which the ‘Seleção’ will seek to qualify early for the World Cup. Alves was not called.
“We hope he has light and finds his way,” Tite said of the defender. AFP (HN)