It appears that rich Russian club FC Anzhi Makhachkala are not content securing the services of former Barcelona player Samuel Eto’o. If a report in Catalan publication Sport is to be believed, the club is now eyeing FC Barcelona right back Daniel Alves. And the sum that they are willing to part with for one of the most influential players in Guardiola’s squad is 35 to 40 million euros. Also, Alves is reportedly being tempted with a salary of 15 million euros, higher than that of Messi’s, to pack his bags and join Roberto Carlos, the club’s captain, and Russian midfielder Yuri Zhirkov to play for the club in Makhachkala, capital of the Republic of Dagestan. Interestingly, the club’s players live and train in the Moscow region and fly in for home matches.

But before cules start panicking about the departure of Alves to the cold environs, they should know that sources close to Alves have said that the Brazilian is not keen to play in the Russian Premier League and is not lured by the hefty pay package. Sport explains that the player is content at Barca, “where he feels valued,” and also believes at this point in his career money is not the priority. Also, the 27-year-old player renewed his contract with the Catalan club this March which will see him tied to Barcelona till June 2015.

Joining the ranks of Manchester City and Paris St Germain, the Russian side has seen its economic fortunes go sky high after it was purchased by a wealthy businessman. In this case, billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, who ranks 118th in richest people in the world with a turnover of 7.8 billion dollars, is the owner.

Source: Sport; Image credit: David Ramos/Getty Images