Barcelona have sent a direct message to Dani Alves over his future after being excluded from the club’s squad for the Europa League.
The Catalan club were forced into making a decision on the Brazilian who became the first signing of coach Xavi Hernandez at Camp Nou.
Alves was one of a quartet of January arrivals who have transformed Xavi’s Barcelona, but let them with a dilemma over their European squad – as one of the new signings had to be excluded.
Xavi has to prepare his side for the Europa League knockout stages after the club crashed out of the Champions League group stage.
After signing Alves, Barca completed the signing of Ferran Torres from Manchester City and then secured the loan signing of La Masia graduate Adama Traore from Wolves before clinching the signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
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Xavi and his coaching staff then had the dilemma which meant that one of those four arrivals had to be excluded from the squad attempting to win this season’s Europa League.
Article 46 of UEFA's regulations states that from "the knockout round play-offs, a club may register a maximum of three new eligible players for the remaining matches in the current competition."
While Sergino Dest is the only other right-back in the Barca squad, central defender Oscar Mingueza and midfielder Sergino Dest have also been deployed in the position in the past year.
Yet Alves has featured for the Catalan club domestically and despite turning 39 in May, he is hopeful of extending his short-term deal at the Camp Nou until the end of the campaign.
Alves wants to play in this winter’s World Cup finals in Brazil and a new contract would see him celebrate his 40 th birthday while in the Blaugrana’s first-team squad.
Barca president Joan Laporta has now addressed the future of Alves, alongside that of Adama Traore – who is only on loan from Wolves until June.
Laporta explained in an interview this week: "There are options for them to stay, in Dani's case it's easier, while in Adama's case it's also feasible.
"These are also an economic issue for us."
Xavi told reporters at a press conference on Saturday: "We (him and Dani Alves) have not talked yet, but as for performance there is no doubt of his quality.
"He is so influentially for the team, he spreads professionalism throughout the team. He is an example.
"I hope he continues with this level of performance. I would like him to continue, although it depends on several things.
"He has also gives us a lot on the pitch."
Alves won 26 trophies in his first spell at the Camp Nou between 2008 and 2016, including six La Liga titles and three Champions League crowns to establish himself as one of football's most decorated players.
