Karim Benzema: Real Madrid striker 'has everything to win' the Ballon d'Or this year, says Dani Alves

Barcelona legend Davi Alves has had his say on the 2022 Ballon d’Or, tipping long-term rival Karim Benzema to swoop the prestigious award. In an interview with Marca, Alves discussed a number of topics, from the demise of Barcelona in recent years, to his own future at the Catalan club, whilst also favouring the Real Madrid icon to snap up the France Football award after an electric season leading the line for Los Blancos. Ad/> Alves left Barcelona for Juventus in 2016, before returning to the club in January 2022 after spells in France with PSG, and Brazilian club Sao Paulo.

Champions League'No team fights like Real, historic night will be remembered for years' — Inside Europe05/05/2022 AT 12:34 When asked to comment on the changes at the club during this time, he said he believed the club “got carried away by the tide”. «For me what changed at Barca is that they got carried away by the tide,» Alves said. «Football has been changing and the club mistakenly wanted to change and follow this tide.

But if you have a solid base, you don't have to adapt to what comes up or [what becomes] fashion because then you will be vulnerable. »Football has been changing and started to buy and sell, and that is not Barca," he said, hinting Barcelona should rely on the youth talent emerging at the Camp Nou, and compliment them with experienced players to make a «more solid» squad. «That is the process of change that I have seen at Barca, and now we are trying to recover what was [there] before.» Alves’ contract will run out in June, and potentially see the end of his second spell at the club.