A Spanish Court, sitting today Thursday, February 22, 2024, has sentenced legendary footballer Dani Alves to jail for rape, LCSoccerHub Reports.
According to Reuters, Dani Alves has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison after being found guilty of rape and sexual assault.
Back in 2022, Dani Alves came under the wires after reports emerged he had allegedly assaulted and raped a woman in a nightclub in Barcelona.
The 40-year-old reportedly stalked his victim to the bathroom in the nightclub before allegedly forcing himself on her.
The woman, who was reportedly struggling with trauma due to the incident, is said to have lodged a complaint with the police.
In January 2023, Daniel Alves was whisked away by security operatives and kept in detention awaiting trial.
According to Marca, Dani Alves has remained in preventive pre-trial ever since. He was deemed a flight risk by the judge, hence several attempts by his lawyers to work out his release through bail failed.
Dani Alves would have seen luck shone on him for his release but the going got difficult even for his lawyers as he kept changing the narrative of what actually happened on the eventful night at the club.
Before forensic evidence, Dani Alves denied ever knowing the woman, insisting he never had sex with her.
When forensic evidence emerged, he changed the narrative, saying he actually had sex with her but it was consensual.
The Brazil football legend added he lied that he did not have sex with the woman to cover up for his infidelity to his wife.
From the foregoing, it was pretty evident the former Puma player had a very slim chance to come out unscathed.
According to reports shared by the BBC, he has been convicted and has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison.
Details of the judgment, delivered today Thursday, February 22, reveal Alves will be supervised during his release for five years.
He has also been barred from communicating with the victim for nine years and 6 months after his release and will pay a compensation of €150,000 as legal costs.
It is a difficult chapter in the journey of the football legend, who won all Spanish domestic trophies and European titles with Barcelona, and other top clubs in Europe.
