I never said Dani Alves wasn't good, just that he isn't a solution to our very demanding right back position
I would also say Xavi doesn't deserve to come back to Barca as a player, not to take anything away from him but age is a factor, the body just isn't there to play for a top tier club like Barca.
and last year we didn't lose because Alves left, but because the board and Lucho did not replace him not adjusted well without him.
i think if we had an actual right back and not Sergi Roberto we would have won one of the games we drew or lost as you say.
age is a huge factor here.
Lucho, in his infinite wisdom, thought that Sergei Roberto was a better right back and that Aleix Vidal was not up to the task. Age is a factor, but it depends on the player. Dani, at 34, is better than most right backs in the game. We should have kept Dani and would have won the La Liga - that s a fact. More yet. We should have signed Dani for this season and Neymar would still be here.
Guardiola is not stupid. He wanted Dani for Manchester City and at the last minute he signed with PSG, because Neymar asked him to. It is one of the reasons that Neymar has to go to PSG. Dani Alves and Neymar went in the same private jet to Messi's wedding.
Di Maria destroyed us in the CL game in Paris. He scored two of the three goals against us. That is Di Maria at his best. That is why we need Dybala to play for Di Maria or Iniesta when either one of them are hurt.
Iniesta is getting up there in age. Would you suggest that we sell him because of it? Xavi is done. Period. Dani or Iniesta still have game left in them. With Dani and Aleix Vidal, we would have been set at right back. Dani Alves is the starting right back for the Brazilian National Team. Brazil is the land of the defensive backs. Marcelo, Dani, Roberto Carlos, Cafu just to name a few. If Dani is good enough for Brazil, he is good enough for us.
I prefer Countinho over Di Maria anytime. However, he is not for sale. Forget the papers and this silly season when they associate us with every player in the market or not