Alves: I'll leave Barcelona if the energy doesn't change

Posted Saturday, May 10, 2014 by

Dani Alves has cast doubts on his future at Barcelona, saying he will leave unless there is a "change in energy" at the club.

The 31-year-old right back joined the Catalan giant from Sevilla in 2008 and has won a plethora of trophies at Camp Nou, including four La Liga titles as well as two Champions Leagues and Club World Cups.

But the Brazilian, who has been linked to a move to Paris Saint-Germain recently, said that he feels hurt by the amount of criticism he and the team have received this term as it crashed out of the Champions League and continues to trail Atletico Madrid in La Liga. As a result, he claimed he could leave the club this summer.

"It’s very hard to get the chance to play for Barcelona and, whether people like it or not, I’m part of the history of this club," he told RAC1. "I need energy, it’s what motivates me; I’m an upbeat, happy person.

"I’ve always been like that, but because the results aren’t what people expect, they need someone to shoot at and I feel shot at. I really believe in energy, I live off this energy and, if you start to create negative energy, things don’t flow.

"If this energy doesn’t change, I’ll probably leave because it wears you down. If I'm to stay this summer, there has to be a change of energy."

Alves then turned his attention to his side's title run-in. With two weeks of the season remaining, they sit three points behind league leaders Atletico Madrid, who they face on the final day.

“If we don’t win the league, this season is a disaster," he said. “We’re getting too many chances, and you can’t let chances slip. I trust this team 100 percent and I guarantee we won’t disappoint."

He further indicated that the speculation surrounding Luis Enrique taking over from current coach Gerardo Martino comes at an inopportune moment for the team.

"As a player I think he was phenomenal and as a coach he’s doing a very good job at Celta, but I think that at this club people are often too hasty. We’re still fighting for the title. People need to take things a bit more calmly, not rush things so much, because the season hasn’t finished."

He was then asked for his thoughts on his side's signing of compatriot Neymar.

"Very strange things happen here. Real Madrid were going to pay 100 million euros for Neymar, Barca get him for 57 million euros and people say it’s an incredible amount. What’s incredible is that he came here when 100 million euros was being offered."