Alves turned down the chance to extend his contract until 2015. -Reuters Photo

BARCELONA: Barcelona’s Brazilian defender Dani Alves has reportedly rejected the club’s latest offer to extend his contract which runs out in June next year.

Alves turned down the chance to extend his contract until 2015 that would have placed him at the same salary level as teammates such as captain Carles Puyol, the sports daily Mundo Deportivo said, without giving any figures.

According to the paper, Barca “tried to find ways to improve the contract without throwing wages out of balance”.

But the offer made no improvement on an earlier proposal and was rejected in a meeting between Alves’ lawyer Joaquin Macanas and Barcelona vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu, the paper said.

Nevertheless, it said 28-year-old Alves would still be open to a better offer from Barcelona, who remained his priority.

Rival sports daily As said Alves was still in negotiations with Barcelona to extend the contract.

It said Alves’ lawyer did not receive a new offer in the meeting and was left only with the previous proposal to consider.

Alves “remains very focused on the team, and he realizes that he will stay with them until 2012 at least, and his only obsession is getting back to winning titles with Barca, with whom he has already eight,” As said.

But As also warned of continued interest from Manchester City in Alves, who came to Barcelona from Sevilla in 2008 and is currently recovering from a calf injury.