Alves: They always say I’ll leave…

Dani Alves isn’t bothered by speculation he’ll leave Barcelona but questions why it’s always him at the centre of the gossip.

Alves was speaking after Barca’s 3-1 Champions League Round of 16 second leg win over Arsenal and, having echoed Arsene Wenger’s praise for Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, was asked about his future.

“I’m vaccinated [against the speculation]. I’ve been listening to it for nine years. It’s always me. They don’t say it about Messi, Suarez and Neymar,” he complained, Marca reports.

“You have to move the market, sell newspapers, and controversy sells. It’s part of my life and I’m accustomed to it. You have to keep working, work more and talk less.

“I’ll stay as long as the club wants me and I want to stay. We’re parts and the club moves according to what they want. It’s respectable.”

Alves did though touch on gossip linking Neymar and Real Madrid, hitting out at what he suggested is a plot to upset life at Camp Nou.

“Madrid wants everyone, as you know. We’re happy at Barca. We shouldn’t think about these things. Sometimes they’re said to destabilise,” he argued.

“We think of the day-to-day, the work. It’s done to distract us but talking about it and defending yourself is pointless.

“What I can say is that I’ll be missed the day I do leave here.”

The future of Marc-Andre Ter Stegen has been up in the air amid reports he wants to be first choice, and Alves lamented the reality of the situation.

“We have to protect all the players. I don’t think football is about individuals, but the collective,” he said.

“We have to be considerate enough that everyone can perform. I think [Ter Stegen] is a great professional, like [Claudio Bravo]. We’re well covered in all positions.

“Unfortunately we can’t play more than 11. I’d like to play every game, too.”

Tags Dani Alves Neymar
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