Dani Alves out for 15-20 days

Barcelona's defender, Dani Alves, will be out for between 15 and 20 days with a hamstring injury to his right leg, which he suffered in the Levante game at the Ciutat de València stadium.



A medical test he underwent this Monday confirmed the Brazilian full-back's condition. This is the fourth time Dani Alves has been injured this season, with all of them being muscular injuries.



Martín Montoya came on to replace him against Levante, which made history because it meant that, for the first time ever, every one of the eleven men on the pitch for Tito's team were players that came through the youth ranks at Barcelona.



During the spell that Alves is predicted to be out for, Barça will play five games: Alavés, Athletic Club de Bilbao, Benfica, Betis and Atlético de Madrid. This will more than likely extend to six games, since Barça will be defending a 3-0 advantage that it notched up in Vitoria for the return leg of the cup game against Alavés this Wednesday and will likely go through to the last 16 of the Spanish cup to be played on 12th December.



Alves actually had exactly the same injury recently, although it was to his left leg. This prior injury happened in the game against Real Madrid, when he was also substituted for Montoya. Alves has now joined Bartra, Muniesa, Villa, Cuenca, Alexis Sánchez and Abidal on Barcelona's injury list.

Alves happy at Barcelona

Barcelona full-back Dani Alves has quashed speculation he could be set to leave the Catalans this summer.

The Brazilian endured a frustrating season as Barca failed to win the Primera Division title for the first time in his four years at the club, while they were also eliminated by Chelsea in the Champions League semi-finals.



The 29-year-old was even dropped on occasion by former coach Pep Guardiola as he utilised a three-man defence in a number of big games and Alves also missed Barca's victory in the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Bilbao with a broken collarbone.



However, despite interest from Paris St Germain, Alves insists his future remains in Barcelona.



He told Globosporte: "I have a contract until 2016 and I intend to complete it. I am happy in Barcelona. A lot of things have been said, but they are just rumours. In reality there isn't anything."



Alves could though miss the start of Barca's domestic campaign should he be selected by Brazil as one of their over-age players for the Olympics.



And after missing out on the squad in 2008, he is desperate to be involved this summer.



"I will be completely fit again by the start of July and available for selection by the national team. The decision lies with Mano Menezes to choose the best players to represent Brazil in London and I hope my dream can become a reality."