ALVES SUPPORT

Barcelona defender Dani Alves has defended his team-mate and compatriot Neymar, claiming the forward has only been criticised in recent weeks following allegations over his controversial summer transfer from Santos.

Neymar has scored just three goals and provided one assist in nine matches since returning from a month out with an ankle injury, and missed three clear goalscoring opportunities in Barca’s 1-0 win at Espanyol on Saturday.

Alves claims recent media criticism of Neymar coincided with speculation about the player’s contract and the circumstances of his transfer, which lead to Sandro Rosell resigning as Barcelona president in January amid allegations of unpaid tax relating to the signing.

Criticism of Neymar has not just been confined to the press, however, with former Barca player and coach Johan Cruyff remarking last week that the 22-year-old’s arrival had destabilised the Barca dressing room.

But Alves, speaking ahead of the first leg of Barca’s Champions League quarter-final tie with Atletico Madrid, tonight, has stuck up for his beleaguered teammate, insisting he is being blamed for the fallout from the transfer.

“I think the criticism only started when the details about his contract emerged, before that everyone was happy with him,” Alves told a press conference.

“We should not judge him on how much he cost, but on how well he is playing.

“For me now he is playing as well as he was at the start of the season. You expect that there will always be a period of adaptation when a player arrives in a new country, but he has been playing well.

“The club paid so much for him because he is worth it. People have paid more money for players that haven’t been worth it.”

Barca have confirmed that goalkeeper Victor Valdes will be out for seven months after undergoing knee surgery in Germany.