Barcelona ready to start contract negotiations with Alves
Published:Barcelona have made the task of handing Dani Alves a contract extension one of their main goals for the upcoming three months as they bid to win both La Liga and the Champions League.
The Brazilian is a key member of the Barcelona defence and the Spanish champions are keen to ensure that they continue to reap the rewards of his marauding runs up and down the right touchline.
Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta said at a recent press conference: “We have made an offer to Alves to extend his deal and soon we’ll negotiate.
“We want him to stay and this will be one of our objectives over the next three months.”
Manager Josep Guardiola has made a number of big signings over the summer in order to boost the chances of Barcelona winning La Liga for the third year in succession, such as David Villa, Javier Mascherano and Adriano.
They are 4/7 to top the La Liga table at the end of the season and got off to an impressive start by winning 3-0 away at Racing Santander.
Zubizarreta added that the fact that Barcelona only have some 19 first-team players is not a cause for concern as they also look to triumph in the Champions League, for which they are 11/4 favourites.
He explained that there are a number of players in the Barcelona B team that have the talent to step up to the first team and can be called upon where needed, but are more suited to the second division to continue their development.
The news comes after Barcelona recently agreed a contract extension with Seydou Keita, with the Mali international now tied to the Nou Camp until 2014.
Villa scored on his Barcelona debut against Racing and is 3/1 to finish as La Liga’s top scorer this season, just ahead of teammate Lionel Messi, who is 7/2. See the entire market.
