Dani Alves is set to join Mexican club Pumas as a free agent after hitting out at the manner of his exit from Barcelona.
Barca did not extend the short-term contract of Alves even though the veteran right-back was hoping to stay at the club for at least the first half of next season to keep his World Cup dream alive and has left him searching for a new club this summer.
The veteran Brazilian became the first signing of Xavi Hernandez at the Camp Nou last season but did not have his short-term deal at the Camp Nou renewed, despite making 17 domestic appearances in the run-in of the campaign – leaving Sergino Dest as the only other specialist right-back in their squad.
The right-back is now set to join Mexican club Pumas on a short-term deal to allow him to play regular football ahead of the World Cup in Qatar and allow him to be in the reckoning for a call-up to the final major tournament of his career.
Mexican outlet Record claim that a deal is in place to sign Alves with the player set to earn $100k (£4.8k) per game for each appearance he makes for the club. It is said that the club are hopeful that the Brazilian will play 10 matches in the Apertura 2022 for Pumas over the course of his deal.
It is said that money was not the objective in the decision of Alves to join the club and his primary aim is to maintain match fitness ahead of this winter’s World Cup. However, Pumas will have to take out new sponsorship deals in order to cover the deal.
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Alves had accused Barca of "not caring" about those who made history for the club as he criticised the manner of his exit earlier this summer. It was the player’s second stint at the club following his exit in 2016 after a glittering, trophy-laden first spell at the Camp Nou.
Speaking to The Guardian earlier this summer, the Brazilian lamented over his exit at the end of the campaign: "The only thing I didn't like was how my departure was handled." He then went on to add: "This club has sinned in recent years. Barcelona doesn't care about the people who made history for the club. As a Barca fan, I would like Barcelona to do things differently."
