Dani Alves joins Sao Paulo after PSG exit

0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, August 2, 2019
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Paris St Germain's Kylian Mbappe (top) and Dani Alves celebrate after the Ligue 1 match between Paris Saint Germain and AS Monaco in Paris, France, on April 21, 2019. PSG beat AS Monaco 3-1 claiming the title of champion of 2018-2109 Ligue 1 . (Xinhua/Jack Chan)

Veteran right-back Dani Alves has joined Brazilian Serie A side Sao Paulo, less than two months after parting ways with Paris Saint-Germain.

The 36-year-old ended weeks of speculation about his future by signing a three and a half-year deal with the team he supported as a child.

"It's unreal but he is at the club that he loves: Welcome Daniel Alves!," Sao Paulo said in a Twitter post late on Thursday.

The club said that the former Sevilla, Barcelona, Juventus and PSG defender will wear Sao Paulo's No. 10 shirt.

The six-time Brazilian top-flight champions are understood to have beaten off interest in Alves from a host of clubs in Europe, including at least one Premier League side.

"I could've picked any other team to play for," Alves said in a video posted on Sao Paulo's social media accounts. "But I chose to come back to Brazil, to my country, to my people. To the club I love."

In a statement, Sao Paulo president Carlos de Barros said: "Daniel Alves is the embodiment of what this management envisions for Sao Paulo - one of the leading players in the world and recognised for his immense professionalism, his fierce determination and his endless thirst for titles and victories.

"He is also a socially engaged citizen and passionate about our country. Sao Paulo, therefore, wins on every possible front. One day I told Daniel that he would come to play at Sao Paulo, his heart club. Today I have the immense joy and pride to have kept that promise."

Alves is recognized as the most decorated professional footballer in history with 43 trophies over a career spanning two decades. His most recent triumph came last month when he captained Brazil to Copa America glory on home soil. 

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