Sevilla defender Dani Alves has announced he wants to leave the club as soon as possible.

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."