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Former Barcelona and Brazil legend Dani Alves is facing nine years in prison if the court finds him guilty of indecent assault.
The 40-year-old is accused of assaulting a woman in a nightclub in Barcelona in December 2022.
What actually occurred?
Alves is expected to appear in court in Spain on charges of assault that allegedly occurred in Barcelona in December 2022.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Prosecutor's Office is seeking a nine-year prison sentence for the former Barcelona player.
After serving his time, Alves might be hit with a restraining order and ordered to pay damages of €150,000 (£130,500/$163,000).
The ex-Barcelona player was taken into custody back in January and has been behind bars ever since.
In contrast, the legendary Brazilian initially denied acquaintance with the woman in question during a television interview.
Subsequently, he admitted to having sexual relations with his accuser with consent but denied any wrongdoing.
"I have a really clear conscience regarding what happened that night in the bathroom of the VIP area of the Sutton nightclub," he told La Vanguardia in June. "What happened and what didn't happen. And what didn't happen is that I forced this woman to do anything that we did."
According to the Daily Star, Dani claimed the reason for his initial denial was part of an attempt to hide his infidelity from his wife, Joana Sanz, whom he has since separated from.
Allegations of non-consensual intercourse in Spain are often filed under the broader accusation of assault.
This also comes with typical prison terms ranging from four to fifteen years.
Dani Alves, one of the best footballers
Alves won a whopping 44 trophies as a professional football player, making him one of the all-time greats.
The former right-back is the joint-most decorated footballer of all time, alongside former team-mate Lionel Messi.
The defender was a star for Barcelona, helping them win three Champions Leagues, and he also helped Brazil win the Copa America twice.
He played for Barcelona, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, and the Brazilian national team.
After playing for Brazil in the 2022 World Cup, Alves was on vacation in Barcelona when the event occurred.
After his arrest, he was subsequently terminated from his position with club side Pumas.
The public and the football community are both expected to closely follow the trial. The outcome could have a significant impact on Alves's career and reputation.
