Barcelona defender Dani Alves dedicated Saturday’s 3-1 La Liga triumph over Valladolid to ill boss Tito Vilanova as Lionel Messi ended the calendar year with his 91st goal.
Messi was one of three Barcelona scorers in the triumph, which sees them take a Spanish record 49 points into the winter break after just 17 games. Barca are nine points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid, while rivals Real Madrid are third some 16 points back.
Alves was delighted with the victory over Valladolid, which came only days after Vilanova was forced to step down to the recurrence of cancer.
“This win is for Tito,” Dani Alves said. “It’s a surprise and joy that he is home now. We are here to help him any way he can. Football is secondary now, he is fighting for his life.”
Meanwhile, Barcelona director of football Andoni Zubizarreta has told Canal Plus that they won’t sell David Villa in January.
“In January we will keep Villa,” Zubizarreta said. “And it is important to remember that Barcelona is a club that habitually does not accept offers for star players in January.
“David is a player that brings goals and intensity to the team. Now he has recovered from a serious injury I believe that he is offering a good level on the field.”