Trophies speak in Dani Alves’ favour / Image via SkySports.com
Brazil international right-back Dani Alves made an instant impact at Paris Saint-Germain.
Few people could have expected that former Sevilla, Barcelona and Juventus defender would go on to become such a momentous hit at the French giants as he guided PSG to their fifth Trophee des Champions title.
Dani Alves first netted a brilliant 35-yard free-kick to make it 1-1 in the 51st minute, before setting up Adrien Rabiot with a lovely cross into the box for the winner against Ligue 1 champions AS Monaco.
The 45,000-strong crowd in Tangiers, Morocco, witnessed another demonstration of power from the 34-year-old who defies time with his top-class performances and proves he could arguably be considered the best-ever right-back.
Controversial Figure
Even at 34 years of age, Dani Alves is still considered a world-class footballer who is showing no signs of slowing down.
Having caused quite a stir with his surprising Barcelona exit, Dani Alves moved to Serie A champions Juventus where he helped Bianconeri to their sixth successive domestic title and was one of the most notable players in Juventus’ charge to the Champions League finals.
Dani Alves will have his unrestrained nature to blame for a fallout with Juventus, who did not appreciate comments the Brazilian made regarding Paulo Dybala and he ended up leaving the Turin-based giants after only a season in Italy.
Alves was not short of suitors as Manchester City made a quick approach to land him. Pep Guardiola thought he had already landed his man, but Dani Alves made a last-gasp U-turn by choosing PSG instead as the French giants offered more than double the wages he was given at Etihad.
World-Class Asset
It took Dani Alves less than three games to prove he will be a genuine asset for Unai Emery this season. With his goal and assist in the Trophee des Champions against AS Monaco, Dani Alves took his tally to 2 goals and two assists in four competitive matches for his new club.
In addition to these statistical features, Dani Alves continues to make huge waves with his overall performances. A valuable option in defence, Dani Alves uses his quick feet and rapid pace to join up in attack and provide the PSG frontline with an important option upfront.
Relentless runner continues to put in remarkable displays he got recognition for while at Barca and Juventus last season. A huge presence on the pitch, Dani Alves is also a big influence in the locker room with his positive vibes and infectious smile.
The arrival of the world-class defender, who is being more and more deployed in a winger’s role of late, definitely puts PSG closer to where they want to be. Alves is pushing up the overall quality of the squad to a whole new level, whereas his international experience and a winning mentality will arguably be the two biggest attributes PSG can benefit from.
Best-Ever Right-Back?
The aforementioned international experience and winning mentality truly are the two traits separating Dani Alves from the crowd.
A proven quality at the highest level of competition, Dani Alves this weekend won his 37th overall trophy both for club and country.
Having lifted the Trophee des Champions on Saturday, Dani Alves moved ahead of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, becoming the world’s third most decorated footballer with his 34th club silverware. Les Parisiens are now the bookies’ favourites to wrap up the Ligue 1 title and can be found at 2/9 betting odds to reestablish their domestic dominance and help Dani Alves to his 35th club trophy.
Speaking about the all-time list, Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs is currently second with 35 major honours to his name, whereas the first place belongs to Brazilian left-back Maxwell who won whopping 36 trophies.
When discussing the all-time list of any kind, trophies can hardly be enough for us to determine any player as the best-ever and the aforementioned Maxwell perhaps is the best example. The Brazilian can hardly be slotted in the same bracket as Roberto Carlos to start with, let alone be included in determination, but the story is quite different when it comes to Dani Alves.
Thre trophies he lifted throughout his career truly validate the quality of performances he displayed over the past 16 years of his professional career. They speak volumes of his influence in every team he played for, where he quickly emerged as one of the key members and leaders both on and off the pitch.
The name of Dani Alves is not an odd one to mention while speaking about the likes of Gianluca Zambrotta, Giuseppe Bergomi, Jose Nasazzi, Lillian Thuram or Cafu, which to this date remain recognized as some of the best players in the right-back position.
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