Barcelona president Joan Laporta revealed that new coach Xavi wanted Dani Alves back at the club after the Brazilian was presented at the Camp Nou on Wednesday.
Alves had made no secret of the fact that he wanted to come back after leaving Brazilian side Sao Paulo back in September.
Laporta says he spoke with the new coach who was in no doubt that he wanted the 38-year-old back at the club.
“I asked Xavi if he wanted to sign Dani as he was available and Xavi told us: ‘I need Dani Alves in the team, it’s important,’ he said.