Barça spent €100m trying to replace Alves... only to re-sign Alves

Barcelona's eternal search for the 'new' Dani Alves has finally finished with the signing of... Dani Alves. Since the Brazilian left in 2016, Barça have not stopped looking for a replacement at right-back. His return shows that they have not had much success.

The Catalan club have seen that an objective becoming an obsession is not often good business. In the last five and a half years, they have spent 93.7 million euros trying to replace Alves.

Without including Douglas, who signed when Alves was still at Camp Nou, Barça have tried to move on in the form of Aleix Vidal (17 million euros), Nélson Semedo (35.7 million euros), Wagué (5 million euros), Sergiño Dest (21 million euros) and Emerson Royal (15 million euros).

Between them all, they have played 238 games, scoring nine goals and setting up 26 more. Between 2008 and 2016, in his first spell at the club, Alves made 391 appearances, scoring 21 goals and setting up 101 more.

Since Alves left, Semedo has played the most games at right-back (124) and Vidal has scored the most goals (four). Those two are tied on 11 assists, too. But beyond statistics, no one has offered Alves-level performances.

Patience with Sergiño Dest

Football moves quickly but it's important to remember Dest is only just 21 and, if he develops, he could be a key part of the Barça of the future.

"Dani Alves is a model for me to follow, he plays in the same position as me. I have seen a lot of videos of him on YouTube and I have learned a lot. I want to play like him," Dest said at his presentation.

The USA international arrived with the intention of replacing Alves and now will share a dressing room with his idol. Football can be a funny game.

Some feel Alves' presence will reduce Dest's role and minutes, but it's true that there is no one better to give him advice and to help him learn. To train and play with the charismatic Brazilian will only help Dest.