The impassioned speech that returning Barcelona hero Dani Alves gave to his new team-mates proves that he is the man to lead the struggling Catalan club’s revival.
Alves has reached an agreement in principle to play for Barca for the first time since 2016 and is the first signing new manager Xavi has made since he replaced Ronald Koeman at the Nou Camp.
The Brazilian established himself as arguably the best right-back in Barcelona ’s history in his first spell at the club, which ran from 2008 until 2016, when he left for Juventus.
After departing Turin, he enjoyed spells at Paris Saint-Germain and Sao Paulo, though has consistently expressed his desire to return to Barcelona, a request that has now been granted.
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Xavi will be relying on his former team-mate to help him to turnaround the club’s fortunes after a difficult season under Koeman and interim boss Sergi Barjuan.
With the squad struggling to perform, the new boss will need to call upon his veterans to change the culture at the Nou Camp.
Alves' actions since linking up with Xavi at the club where they enjoyed so much success in the past certainly suggest that he can become the leader the Spanish side so desperately need.
Though he cannot play any games for the Catalan giants until January, Alves has already returned to Spain to take part in training sessions.
His deal will only run until the end of the season, with the 38-year-old thought to be the lowest-paid player in the Barca squad.
Despite that deal, as a club legend, he will earn the respect that comes from having won 23 trophies in his first spell at the Nou Camp.
He used that status on Monday to deliver a rousing speech to those of his new team-mates who were not called up by their respective countries.
“It is a pleasure to be here after such a long time. To return here is an honour, a pleasure,” Alves said, as per Mundo Deportivo.
“To be able to share with you again. I come to learn from you, now the new world. But 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.
“Insist that it is a pleasure to be here with you. Come on to do great things because this club is made of this, of doing great things.”
It was a speech that earned a standing ovation from the players present at Barca’s training ground, as well as an embrace from boss Xavi.
It also made clear to his struggling team-mates that they much grasp the chance that has been handed to them at Barca and serves as a warning that they must step up their efforts.
While he cannot play for more than a month, his presence in the dressing room will be a huge boost to Xavi, if that impassioned speech is anything to go by.
Alves has been given the number eight shirt ahead of his second debut in January, the jersey worn by Andreas Iniesta during the Brazilian’s first spell in Barcelona.
That debut should come in a trip to Mallorca at the start of January, with Barca currently sitting a lowly ninth in La Liga, 11 points off league leaders Real Sociedad.
