Barcelona did not include Dani Alves in their Europa League squad as they need to sacrifice one of the four new January arrivals to feature in the competition.
UEFA rules made it that a club can only include three new arrivals in their European squad after the January window, and Barca bought four fresh players during a busy transfer market.
The Brazilian defender made a return to Barcelona, along with Ferran Torres, Adam Traore and Pierre-emerick Aubameyang that joined this January.
Xavi excluded Alves from his 23-man squad for this year’s Europa League, after Barcelona was sent packing from the Champions League.
Reports had it that the Xavi had wanted to exclude Aubameyang, but appears to have had a change of heart.
Xavi is now left with only one right back in Sergino Dest, while Sergi Roberto and Oscar Mingueza have filled that position previously.
