Dani Alves: Everyone knows my admiration for Pep Guardiola

Dani Alves has reaffirmed his admiration for Pep Guardiola ahead of an anticipated move to Manchester City.

Alves is expected to join City after Juventus agreed to release him from the final year of his current deal.

The 34-year-old defender worked under Guardiola at Barcelona, winning the Champions League twice and La Liga three times in an extraordinary four years for the coach.

Speaking on Brazilian talk show "Conversa com Bial" in an interview recorded earlier this week, Alves was asked if he was taking English lessons because he was moving to City but said: "The English language [is something] everyone needs to know."

However, he added: "Everyone knows about my admiration for Pep Guardiola."

He said he had not been aware that Juve had agreed to let him go, adding that his future was being dealt with by his representatives.

"It is first-hand news that you are giving to me that I asked to leave [Juventus]," he said.

"I let my staff take care of everything and they said that only would talk to me when a resolution has come.

"If I leave I'll leave without fight, without problem, the opposite of what people are talking about."

Sources told ESPN FC that City are keen on the full-back, who could be offered a two-year deal at the Etihad Stadium.

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