Dani Alves could take on Premier League challenge to be considered for Brazil at World Cup 2022 in Qatar

A few weeks ago, life in the fast lane seemed to have come to an end for Daniel Alves. Paris Saint-Germain announced that they were letting the veteran right-back go.

It appeared to mark the end of their Neymar project – Dani Alves is considered a key influence on the wayward star – and it was also interpreted as the moment when a glorious career went downhill.

Perhaps Alves would return to Sevilla, his first European club. Or maybe China would be an option, or back to Brazil.

What a difference a tournament makes. Alves was Brazil’s captain in their victorious Copa America campaign, and was chosen as the outstanding player of the competition.

The Copa gave him a stage – and he used it to hit the back of the stalls with the message that his time at the top is far from over.

Suddenly there is speculation linking him with Manchester City – he worked successfully with Pep Guardiola at Barcelona - Tottenham and Arsenal plus some Italian giants.

WORLD CUP

And he wants the challenge of a big club to keep him fit and in contention for the next World Cup.

It would be a stretch. Now 36, Alves will be a few months away from his 40th birthday by the time of Qatar 2022. But he has unfinished business.

The World Cup has been cruel to him. He was Maicon’s reserve in 2010, and lost his place to the same player during the 2014 competition.

Last year in Russia could have been his moment – but he missed out through injury.

He is entitled to hold on to the 2022 dream because Brazil have changed the remit of their full backs.

He lost out to Maicon because at that time they were looking for auxiliary wingers, players who could spend 90 minutes charging up and down the touchline, keeping the pitch wide.

AN ICON v MAICON

Maicon was seen as more athletic – and anyway, at his current age it is not a role that Alves could fill.

But Brazil boss Tite is looking for something different – Manchester City full-backs rather than Liverpool ones, as he puts it.

He wants something less physically demanding but more cerebra, the capacity to construct moves from deep, and to occasionally cut into the attacking line as an element of surprise.

With his quality, experience and intelligence, this is not a problem for Alves.

And so, after spells in Spain, Italy and France, there is a chance that Brazil’s captain will be coming to England.

ALVES HAS HIS LIMITS

He has much to offer – though fans would be wise to recall that his age does impose certain limitations.

Alves was perhaps never the greatest defensive full-back, and time has added to his vulnerability.

For the last few minutes of the Copa America final against Peru, Brazil were down to ten men after Gabriel Jesus was sent off, and they were struggling to defend a 2-1 lead.

The Peruvians went probing down his flank, and came closest when they got in behind him.

Tite reacted quickly, bringing on new Real Madrid signing Eder Militao at right-back and pushing his captain into midfield.

But at the final whistle, Alves had yet another title to add to his collection. Perhaps the next one will come in England.