Ex-Barcelona and Brazil footballer Dani Alves jailed after being found guilty of nightclub rape

Former Barcelona and Brazil player Dani Alves has been found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in a Spanish nightclub.

According to the Daily Mail, the 40-year-old has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison.

Alves was first arrested back in January 2023 for alleged 'sexual assault with penetration’.

The former player has denied any wrongdoing throughout the trial and his lawyer had asked for him to be acquitted.

Alves will be allowed to appeal against the sentence after being ordered to pay his victim a total of £128,000 and has also been given a nine-and-a-half-year restraining order.

Since his arrest, Alves had been held on remand at the Brians 2 Prison in Barcelona.

During a three-day trial at the city’s Audiencia Provincial court, Alves took to the stand on the final day to plead his innocence.

The report stated that judicial officials said in a statement: “Daniel Alves has been sentenced to four and a half years in prison after being convicted of sexual assault.

“The court also ordered him to stay away from his victim for nine and a half years and determined he should pay his victim 150,000 euros and pay costs.

“The sentence says it has been proved the victim didn't consent and there is proof supporting the victim's testimony to consider the rape has been proven.”

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Speaking in an exclusive interview from his cell in Brians 2 Prison last June with Spanish television and newspaper reporter Mayka Navarro, Alves reportedly said: “The only person I have to ask for forgiveness is my wife, Joana Sanz.”

Throughout his career, Alves played for the likes of Barcelona, Sevilla, Juventus and Paris Saint Germain.

The full-back won six La Liga titltes and three Champions League trophies during his time playing for Barcelona before winning the Serie A with Juevntus.