By Egbe Emmanuel E.
PARIS -- Paris Saint-Germain have confirmed the signing of right-back
Dani Alves on a free transfer after the Brazil international rescinded
his Juventus contract.
The former Barcelona and Sevilla man, 34,
was widely expected to join Manchester City and reunite with coach Pep
Guardiola after their time together at Camp Nou but an ESPN FC source has said that PSG offered to double the Premier League club's salary offer.
Alves
was apologetic towards City coach and former Barcelona boss Guardiola
before he lauded his new employers ambitions and addressed his family's
needs.
"If Pep feels hurt, I would like to apologise," Alves said
at his unveiling in the French capital. "The same goes for City.
However, I take responsibility and I made the right decision with this
move. I want to continue to be a champion."
Alves admitted that
City were not the only Premier League club interested in him but that he
had to put his family first after he prioritised himself by moving to
Juventus from Barca.
"I was not only of interest to Manchester
City but other English clubs too," claimed Les Parisiens' new No. 32.
"However, there is a very interesting project here. I spoke with the
City bosses and I spoke with the president, who told me all about this
club.
"PSG are ambitious and desire to win a title that it has not
managed to for now [the UEFA Champions League]. I have friends here and
my wife likes this city very much -- these were several elements that
convinced me to change my mind.
"I want to be a part of this
long-term project. With Juve, I was a little selfish and I took the
decision alone. This time, I decided to be less selfish and to make sure
that there was a connection everywhere.
"I want everybody to be happy, particularly my family. It is because of this that I mainly chose to come here."
Paris-based ESPN FC sources revealed that sporting director Antero Henrique and his assistant Maxwell -- Les Parisiens'
recently retired former left-back -- worked tirelessly to land Alves
and that the latter's friendship with his compatriot played a key role
in the deal.
Star man and midfielder Marco Verratti has been
linked heavily with a move to Barca this summer but Alves wants the
Italy international to remain at Parc des Princes to aid a push for
Champions League glory.
"I have come here to play with him!" Alves
exclaimed. "Otherwise, why would I have joined? That is the message I
would like to send to him.
"I have come to play alongside him and I
want him to help us to realise our dream [of Champions League glory].
This dream is very close. The stronger we are, the more opportunities we
will get to make this dream a reality."
Alves also revealed that
PSG's significant Brazilian contingent, notably close friend Maxwell,
factored into his thinking when making his decision to move to France.
"This
is something that has a personal and professional side," he said.
"Maxwell is a member of staff here and he fought to bring me here. I
will repay him each day.
"I am itching to get started and to be on the pitch. I want to give my best for my teammates and the club."
Alves
is expected to feature in coach Unai Emery's squad for the
International Champions Cup in the USA and depart with the group on
Saturday.
"In recent years, I have been able to gauge the
incredible growth of this club, which has become a European football
powerhouse," he said. "It's very exciting to now be part of this great
project! In all the clubs where I have played, I have always given my
best to help my teams achieve as much as possible. Believe me, I am
coming to Paris to win. I know the ambitions of my new club and the
expectations of its many fans around the world. We're going to share in
some great times, I'm certain of that."
Alves was expected in
Manchester on Tuesday, so it was a surprise for City when he touched
down in France instead and underwent his medical at the American
Hospital of Paris in the suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine -- not PSG's usual
Pitie-Salpetriere facility -- before penning the contract.
Alves gives PSG the experience boost they clearly needed after last
season's disappointment in both Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
However,
Alves also brings a winning mentality with him that will aid Unai
Emery's men and boasts seven league (six in La Liga and one in Serie A),
six domestic cup (five Copa del Rey and one Coppa Italia), three
Champions League and two Europa League titles in a collection of 30
pieces of silverware collected during his career in Europe.
He
told his fans via Instagram: "It's lit, my friends. As human beings we
are moved by challenges, you must prepare to face them without fear of
consequences because of your decisions. They come full of difficulties
but having confidence and working hard will carry you along. I am from
the Northeast and I have been ready for anything since I was a kid.
Inside me is much love and passion and my soul has an insatiable thirst
that only champions have."
Alves has
signed in time to be part of PSG's International Champions Cup squad in
the United States this summer and takes some pressure off of positional
rival Thomas Meunier's recovery from surgery on a left ankle problem
before the end of last campaign.
"I'm
delighted and very proud to welcome Daniel Alves to our club," PSG CEO
EO Nasser Al-Khelaifi said. "Daniel has not only been one of the world's
best defenders in the last dozen years, he is also a recognised and
well-liked figure among football supporters on every continent. His
rigour and energy will add a lot to our squad, and our fans will love
his hunger for victory, which will never stop driving Dani on. By
choosing PSG, Daniel has shown everyone the vitality and attractiveness
of our project."
The Belgium international and Alves are likely to battle for the starting role at Parc des Princes, while Serge Aurier is now expected to be granted a move away from the French capital.
It remains to be seen whether PSG pinching Alves from under City's noses will have repercussions for their potential pursuit of France international defender Eliaquim Mangala.
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