Brazilian Star, Dani Alves’ Return To São Paulo Goes Sour -

In 2019 when Dani Alves made a return to Brazilian football after starring in Europe for almost two decades, two goals above all were key to his homecoming.

The ex-Barcelona, Sevilla, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus man first and foremost wanted to get his hands on the Copa Libertadores, becoming one of a select group of idols to be crowned champion in both Europe and South America.

And he wanted to do it on his own terms: freed from the shackles of the right-back position and with the No.10 on his back, inspiring Sao Paulo as their creative lynchpin.

One year later, though, things are not going to plan. Sao Paulo saw out their failed Copa campaign on Tuesday with a 5-1 thrashing of Binacional in Group D’s dead rubber clash, a result only good enough for third place behind River Plate and Liga de Quito.

Despite reinforcing with the likes of Alves, Atletico Madrid legend Juanfran and former Milan prodigy Alexandre Pato – whose contract was rescinded in August – the second-tier Copa Sudamericana is Sao Paulo’s fate, a huge disappointment for the Brazilian giants.

Their failure to decide exactly what to do with the exuberant full-back who refuses to be a full-back, moreover, has played at least some part in their failure.

“It would be crazy to play me at the back now,” Alves asserted to reporters back in July, while the Brazilian and South American game was still on Covid-induced hiatus, insisting that it was as a Xavi-esque withdrawn playmaker that he now felt most comfortable – “[from there] I have managed to help the team have more balance and play.”

In fact the 37-year-old has bounced across the Sao Paulo starting XI since Serie A and the Libertadores began, playing in six different positions – including at right-back – in just 12 games.

That instability, added to a broken arm which ruled him out of both Sao Paulo’s opening Copa matches in South America, has hindered Alves from making a big impact, contributing just two goals in 14 games across the competitions; although he has indeed looked happiest running the midfield from deep.

Alves’ positional switchings have also had an adverse effect on his international prospects. Just one year ago he was the star of Brazil’s Copa America triumph. He was, however, not included at all in the nation’s recent World Cup qualifying squad, with coach Tite opting for Palmeiras youngster Gabriel Menino over the veteran and stating that if he is not playing at right-back, he will not be considered for selection.

While his efforts on the pitch have been subdued, Dani has not failed to catch attention away from it. The build-up to Sao Paulo’s must-win clash at River Plate in September saw Alves pose with the shirt of their arch-rivals Boca Juniors, while also posing with Xeneize staff in a clear contravention of Covid protocol.