Most players are abused by fans when they play against their former clubs - but not Dani Alves.

Eight glory-filled years at Barcelona saw the Brazilian become a club legend before joining Juventus on a free transfer last summer.

So when he returned to the Camp Nou on Wednesday night in the Champions League quarter-finals, he was given a hero's welcome.

Everything that happened thereafter was typical Alves. As the referee blew his whistle to start the game, the 33-year-old was caught mucking around with Barcelona's bench.

He also put in a superb performance at right-back, bombing forward when possible and preventing Neymar from doing his usual damage.

And after the game, Alves hugged an inconsolable Neymar when he broke down in tears. There's a reason Barcelona fans love and miss him so much.

In a post-match interview, Alves revealed exactly what he said to his former teammate: "I told Neymar that this is life, unfortunately we had to face each other.

"I did not want to measure myself just on this, we have lived these moments together and now we live them apart so it is hard."

Alves also dedicated a touching Instagram post to Neymar. Check it out below.

"Te amo irmão" translates to "I love you brother", which Neymar quickly responded to with an equally lovely comment. You can tell they're best friends.

Neymar wrote to Alves: "I love you too my brother... I wish you all the luck in the world!!! Be happy always 🤙❤️❤️."

How Barcelona must regret allowing Alves to leave last summer, with the Brazil international explaining earlier this month why he left.

"I have to say that I didn't feel as comfortable any more at Barca," he told FIFA.com, per the Mirror. "Things changed at a club level.

"As time went on, I always seemed to be the one in the firing line. 'Dani's the one who has to go,' they'd say. I just got tired of it.

"I decided to head off in a new direction and find happiness somewhere else."