A young woman has reported Dani Alves for sexual aggression. During the trial, the ex-Barça professional tearfully denied the allegations. The Brazilian faces a long prison sentence.
In the trial against Dani Alves for sexual aggression, the professional footballer tearfully rejected allegations of raping a young woman.
“She didn’t tell me that she didn’t want to,” said the 40-year-old Brazilian at the end of the third and final day of the trial in the regional court in Barcelona. “We both enjoyed it,” Alves said. The then 23-year-old accuses Alves of forcing her to have sex in a nightclub in Barcelona on December 30, 2022. On January 20, Alves was arrested while visiting Catalonia.
After a good year in custody, Alves is threatened with a long prison sentence: the public prosecutor’s office is demanding nine years in prison and 150,000 euros in damages, while the plaintiff’s lawyers are demanding twelve years. The verdict is expected to be announced by the end of February.
In custody since January last year
The former Barça professional confirmed in front of the three judges and numerous journalists that the sexual acts had taken place with the young woman’s consent. The Brazilian, meanwhile, admitted that he was drunk that night.
During the investigation, Alves initially denied any sexual contact with the woman, according to a statement from the Catalan judiciary. The footballer explained in court that he lied at the beginning to “save his marriage”. “I thought my wife wouldn’t forgive me.”
The woman accusing Alves was questioned at the start of the trial in camera to protect her identity. The three-day criminal trial heard from more than two dozen witnesses and experts. Two of the young woman’s companions as well as police officers, doctors and nightclub employees said that the young woman was “in shock” after the incident.
The 126-time Seleção international player has been in custody in Barcelona since January last year. Before his arrest, he had been playing for the UNAM Pumas club in Mexico.