You’re not working from home, Dani! Returning hero Alves turns up for his Barcelona unveiling with FLIP FLOPS on his feet in tribute to how he arrived in 2008… before taking to the Nou Camp pitch in bare foot and smelling the grass!
- Full-back Dani Alves, 38, is back at Barcelona for a second spell as a player
- The Brazilian wore flip-flops to his first Barca unveiling, back in 2008
- And he repeated the gesture on Wednesday as he reintroduced himself to Barca
Dani Alves is back at the Nou Camp having sealed a surprise return to Barcelona under new manager Xavi, with his official unveiling at Nou Camp taking place on Wednesday.
The 38-year-old returns to Barcelona where he endured tremendous success in his first spell – he was Pep Guardiola’s first Nou Camp signing and won six LaLiga titles and three Champions Leagues in trophy-laden era.
Now, Alves and Xavi will hope his arrival will user in a new era of success but if the wing-back is feeling any pressure, it isn’t showing just yet.
Dani Alves was back in flip flops for his second Barcelona unveiling on Wednesday
When Alves first joined Barcelona in 2008, the Brazilian donned flip-flops for the occasion
Alves cut a suave figure as he arrived for his unveiling in a velvet blazer but he was also rocking flip flops on his feet in homage to the style he wore at his first unveiling in 2008.
The Brazilian then took to the pitch without anything on his feet and picked a few strands of grass of the Barcelona pitch and sniffed them in front of the cameras.
‘Smells like Camp Nou, smells like titles,’ he said. ‘It smells like cups.’
Alves then gave an explainer to the cameras about why he was wearing flip flops for such an important day.
‘I’m wearing flip flops because some things can change but others can’t,’ he said.
Alves will take the No 8 shirt on his return to the Spanish giants, who are currently ninth in the LaLiga standings.
The 38-year-old walked barefoot onto the Nou Camp pitch and said the grass ‘smells like cups’
Speaking in a video posted on Barcelona’s social media channels, Alves said: ‘It is a pleasure to be here after such a long time.
‘To return here is an honour, a pleasure; to be able to share [it] with you again.
‘I come to learn from you now, the new world. From the old one, I want to convey one thing; to know what It represents this club and this shirt.
‘I have been abroad and this is the best place to do great things, to live. You are here; value it, because there is nothing better outside. It is a pleasure to be here with you. [I’ve] come to do great things, because this club is made of this, of doing great things.’
Alves had been playing for Brazilian side Sao Paolo before clinching a return to Spain.
Alves returns to Barcelona where his old team-mate Xavi is now the manager of the club
Alves won three Champions League titles and six LaLiga titles in his first spell at Barcelona
