Ex-Barcelona star Dani Alves faces trial for alleged sexual assault

Former Barcelona and Brazilian star Dani Alves is set to face trial for alleged sexual assault, after a ruling by a court judge.

The 40-year-old footballer was accused of rape in January for an incident that allegedly happened on December 30, 2022, in Barcelona, Spain.

Alves has been in police custody since January, with the Barcelona court denying him bail.

The presiding judge has given Alves’ lawyers five days to present their arguments for the trial, which must convince the judge of his innocence or face the appropriate penalty.

The trial date will be set at the expiration of the five-day ultimatum. If convicted, Alves could face imprisonment for up to 12 years, depending on the weight of the court proceedings.

Additionally, the jury might impose a fine of €150,000 based on the trial’s outcome.

Meanwhile, reports reveal that throughout the proceedings that led up to the court’s statement, Alves has maintained his innocence, providing four different versions of events related to the accusation.

The Brazilian had quite a remarkable career in football, and was once the most decorated footballer with 43 titles until Lionel Messi surpassed the record.

He played for several top clubs, including Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Sevilla, Sao Paulo, and Bahia.