OneFootball
Daniel Issroff·29 November 2017
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Daniel Issroff·29 November 2017
If history has taught us anything, it’s that Dani Alves does not like being under-appreciated or misunderstood.
The Brazilian full-back loves to be loved and he revealed that his frustration with his situation at Juventus led him to leave the club in the summer.
“I’ve spoken about it with my teammates — I joined Juventus also to prove to Italian football that it could improve and raise its level,” he told Sky Sport Italia.
“I just wasn’t understood. I wanted to do something more, but I felt that it wasn’t easy for me.
“I wasn’t happy like I was used to being and this cost me a lot of effort. This is why I chose not to continue.”
Alves did have on-pitch success with Juventus, winning Serie A and reaching the final of the Champions League.
But, in comments that are not likely to earn him any endearment from the Juve supporters , he said that what Italian football needs is more clubs like rivals Napoli.
“The level of Italian football has dropped and the Italian sides who did so well in Europe don’t exist anymore,” he insisted.
“Italian football needs to take a leaf out of Napoli’s book as they play real Calcio. This is what Italian football needs.”
The Brazilian ultimately joined Paris Saint-Germain after reportedly coming very close to re-uniting with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City and he expressed his satisfaction with the decision.
“I’m happy because I feel I have the freedom to play and enjoy myself here,” he said.
“I just hope that Juve and Italian football realise that things need to change there, because football in the rest of the world already has changed.”