Alves dreaming of Messi, Neymar pairing

Dani Alves is hopeful Santos attacker Neymar decides to join Barcelona once he makes the decision to leave his current club.

The 20-year-old is one of the most sought-after players in the world and is continually being linked with a move to Europe, with clubs such as Barca, Real Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester United and Juventus believed to be keeping tabs on him.

Santos are hopeful of holding on to their star player until after the 2014 World Cup, but Alves hopes Neymar moves before then.

“I hope that the Neymar saga will end soon and that the outcome will be satisfying for everyone,” Alves told RAC1.

“I am looking forward to seeing Neymar and Messi play together. He would fit in very well. Barcelona will arguably have the two best attackers in the world with him (and Messi).”

The right-back said the Barcelona squad feared the departure of Pep Guardiola at the end of the 2011/12 campaign would lead to a number of changes, but he is happy that Tito Vilanova has stuck to the Barca philosophy.

“Guardiola has left the team in good hands. We were a bit concerned that Tito would embrace another philosophy, but nothing has changed,” he said.

Barcelona have won their opening five Liga games of the 2012/13 season and sit on top of the table.