Speculation over Alves' future has been rife since he last year revealed his ambition to play for a top European club.

Barcelona are reported to be interested in a summer swoop for the highly rated right-back, who told Marca on Monday: "I want to leave now and I hope that everything is finished as soon as possible."

But Alves, who is contracted to Sevilla until 2012, added: "Although you never know. At the moment, I'm saying goodbye to everyone with a "see you later" because the holidays are just starting.

"We'll see if that goodbye becomes a more definite one. Still you just don't know what will happen."

Last week, the versatile defender told Spanish newspaper El Mundo Deportivo: "Barcelona is a great option I have and making a smart decision must be done with a cool head, never in the heat of the moment."