File picture of Spain and Barcelona player Xavi during training.

DPA/Madrid


The Clash enjoyed their biggest hit in 1991, fully  seven years after their acrimonious breakup, with Should I Stay or Should I Go?, an angst-ridden diatribe about whether to continue with a girl or leave.
Twenty-four years later, this could be the song of the moment for Barcelona veterans Dani Alves and Xavi.
As Barca prepare for Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg at home to Bayern Munich - who humiliated them 7-0 on aggregate two years ago - Alves and Xavi might want to reflect on the lines written by Mick Jones of The Clash.
Barca are playing well and getting excellent results, though the club is immersed in one of its periodic phases of political uncertainty, with presidential elections to be held in July.
The Catalan club wants Alves and Xavi to stay on, but not at any price. They would have to accept slight salary reductions to continue at the Camp Nou, as they move into their thirties and leave behind their peak playing and earning years.
The plan of former sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta - who was sacked in January - was to replace Alves at right-back with youngsters Martin Montoya and Douglas. However, neither Montoya or Douglas have convinced coach Luis Enrique, who is keen for Alves to stay on.
“Of course I want Alves to continue. Just look at the number of times I have played him this season,” said Luis Enrique, whose own future is also shrouded in uncertainty.
Alves joined Barca from Sevilla in 2008, for a then world record fee for a defender. His powerful sorties up the right have contributed massively to Barca winning two Champions League and four Spanish Ligas since his arrival.
However, his contract expires in June, and he has so far refused to sign a new one, as offers have poured in from various top European clubs.
In April, his representative Dinorah Santana - who just happens to be his former wife - rejected a three-year extension offer at a reduced salary, saying: “The negotiations are finished. Dani will do his best for Barca in the two months of contract that remain.”
Current Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu is trying to convince Alves to stay, in the face of Santana’s hostility.
Alves - who is 32 today - has missed only 11 matches in all competitions this season.
Barca cannot sign any players this summer - because of a transfer ban from FIFA for having underage foreign youngsters in their youth scheme - and therefore buying a replacement for Alves is out of the question.
The over-worked Bartomeu - who will be a candidate in the elections - is also trying to convince Xavi to stay at the club.
The veteran playmaker, now 35, has not been as important as Alves this season. However, he has been useful coming off the subs’ bench for the last half hour and imposing his magestic style and expertise in midfield.
This is probably the role Luis Enrique will give Xavi against Bayern, with Sergio Busquets, Andres Iniesta and Ivan Rakitic well established as the first-choice midfield unit.


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