Football
Jonathan Johnson, PSG correspondent 7y

Dani Alves set to sign with PSG despite links to Manchester City - sources

PARIS -- Dani Alves is set to sign for Paris Saint-Germain after the club made a late bid to snatch him from under Manchester City's noses, multiple sources close to the Ligue 1 giants told ESPN FC.

The Brazil right-back has been the subject of much speculation since he was released from the final year of his contract at Juventus, and he was expected to sign for City because of his excellent long-standing relationship with coach Pep Guardiola.

However, sources said PSG made a last-minute effort to lure Alves, 34, to Parc des Princes and thanks to tireless work by sporting director Antero Henrique and his assistant Maxwell -- who is very close friends with Alves -- pulled off a significant coup to land the defender.

Alves landed in Paris on Tuesday and underwent his medical at the American Hospital of Paris in Neuilly-sur-Seine -- not PSG's usual Pitie-Salpetriere facility -- in the afternoon and is expected to pen a two-year contract with Les Parisiens in the coming hours.

PSG called a press conference for Wednesday afternoon at Parc des Princes, where Alves is expected to be unveiled as the latest signing alongside fellow new arrival Yuri Berchiche.

Alves has regularly been linked with PSG in the past, not least because of the club's sizeable Brazilian contingent, and this summer the long-standing rumour has finally come to fruition.

Indeed, Marquinhos was on hand to greet Alves upon his arrival in Paris as he underwent his medical in the Parisian suburbs.

Thomas Meunier and Serge Aurier currently play at right-back for Unai Emery's side, but Aurier has been heavily linked with a move away this summer, and Alves' arrival appears to signal the end of the African's time with the club.

PSG's late signing of Alves could complicate their pursuit of City's Eliaquim Mangala, with Guardiola reportedly furious about his former player's late change of heart regarding a reunion at Etihad Stadium.

Alves worked under Guardiola at Barcelona, winning the Champions League twice and La Liga three times in an extraordinary four years for the coach.

Amid his departure from Juventus, the right-back went so far as to say: "Everyone knows about my admiration for Pep Guardiola," and sources told ESPN FC that City were eager to sign him, but the mutual attraction appears to have come to naught.

City are still without a senior recognised right-back after releasing Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy at the end of the their contracts.

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