Broken collarbone ends Alves´ season

Barcelona defender Dani Alves will miss the Copa del Rey final after breaking his collarbone at training on Wednesday.

The Brazil international right-back will have surgery later on Wednesday and club doctors Ricard Pruna and Carles Torrens are expected to reveal the full extent of the injury at a news conference on Wednesday night.

Alves, who was sent off in Sunday’s Liga clash with Real Betis, has been linked with a move away from Camp Nou this summer.

However, outgoing coach Pep Guardiola described the 29-year-old as irreplaceable after the game in Seville, while Barca midfielder Javier Mascherano hailed his fellow South American as the best right-back in the world.

Alves, however, will not be available for the Catalans’ Copa del Rey showdown with Athletic Bilbao at the Vicente Calderon on May 25.