Dani Alves Denies Rape Allegations in Barcelona Nightclub Trial

Barcelona, Spain – Former Brazil international footballer, Dani Alves, has denied allegations of rape during his trial in Barcelona. The accusations stem from an incident alleged to have occurred at the Sutton nightclub in Barcelona on the night of December 30 to 31, 2022.

After hearing testimony from the alleged victim, witnesses, and experts over two days, Alves asserted in a Spanish court that the encounter in question was consensual. He refuted claims of violence, including hitting the woman and grabbing her hair.

“I am not that type of man; I am not a violent man,” Alves responded to his defense lawyer’s query regarding whether he had forced the woman into sexual relations.

According to the alleged victim, she had danced with Alves and voluntarily accompanied him to the bathroom. However, she stated that when she attempted to leave later, he prevented her from doing so, slapped her, insulted her, and coerced her into sexual activity against her will.

Contrarily, Dani Alves contended that the encounter was consensual, emphasizing that the woman never expressed a desire to leave or signalled any reluctance to engage in sexual relations.

Since January 20, 2023, Alves has been in pre-trial detention after being deemed a flight risk by the judge, resulting in denied bail requests. Notably, Brazil does not extradite its convicted citizens to other countries.

During the investigation, while in detention, Alves initially denied any sexual contact with the woman before later admitting to consensual encounters. He attributed his initial denial to a desire to protect his marriage.

In anticipation of a potential guilty verdict, Dani Alves was advised to set aside 150,000 euros for potential damages.

A decorated footballer, Alves has enjoyed success with prominent clubs such as Barcelona, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain, winning numerous titles. He has also represented Brazil in international competitions, securing two Copa America titles and an Olympic gold medal.

Dani Alves, who played for Barcelona from 2008 to 2016 and briefly returned in 2022, still maintains a residence near the city. Following his detention, his contract with Mexican team Pumas was terminated.