Barcelona boss Xavi Hernandez has doubled down on his decision to omit Dani Alves from the club’s squad for their Europa League campaign.
Xavi is preparing his side to face Napoli in the Europa League knockout stages after the club crashed out of the Champions League groups – failing to score in four matches against Bayern Munich and Benfica.
The Catalan club were forced into making a decision on the Brazilian who became the first signing of the former midfield maestro at Camp Nou.
The Catalan giants then confirmed the arrival of the Brazilian before completing the signing of Ferran Torres from Manchester City.
Barca were not finished there in the January transfer window as they secured the loan signing of La Masia graduate Adama Traore from Wolves before clinching the signing of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
That quartet of arrivals has transformed Xavi’s Barcelona, but it did leave them with a dilemma over their European squad – as one of the new signings had to be excluded from the squad.
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Article 46 of UEFA's regulations states that from "the knockout round play-offs, a club may register a maximum of three new eligible players for the remaining matches in the current competition."
Xavi has now clarified his thought process behind the decision to leave Alves out of the squad and reiterated that it was because of the numbers available in each position.
Attackers Traore, Torres and Aubameyang were included due to injuries to Ansu Fati and Ousmane Dembele, whose contractual situation at the Camp Nou is also uncertain.
Alves is competing with Sergino Dest for the right-back slot – which Oscar Mingueza and Sergi Roberto can also play.
Xavi told a press conference on Wednesday: "I already said that I had been unfair to Dani and made the decision more for position than for any performance related issue."
Alves has already had his say on the decision, which will see him sit out of the European matches, admitting that while it was not his preference – he understood it.
Earlier this month, Alves told the programme Vamos on Movistar TV in Spain: “I am always focused on my day to day.
“But as I always say, we are employees and the club decides what is best for us.
“I came here to help and predispose myself to bring things to the squad, to bring a degree of competitiveness and positive spirit.
“When you are predisposed to help, even if it means staying out, then that is what you accept.
“There are other phases of life that one has to accept.
“I would have liked to be in the squad, but we had four players for three positions and it was my turn to miss out.
“You have to accept it, but you have to focus on what you can offer. I am not infected by bad vibes, but by the positive ones.”
Xavi also spoke about Aubameyang, who has yet to start a match for the Blaugrana.
The Barca boss added: "He is training very well, he needed stronger sessions.
“He is already one hundred percent and we will see him play (against Napoli) for sure.
“We are very happy with him, he is very professional and very positive."
Barcelona host Napoli in the first leg at the Camp Nou on Thursday before travelling to Naples for the return leg on 24 February.
