Barcelona legend facing nine years in prison as prosecutor delivers verdict

Barcelona legend Dani Alves may face up to nine years in jail if the prosecution prevails in his indecent assault trial.

The former Brazil international is accused of non-consensually sleeping with a young woman in a Barcelona nightclub on December 30, 2022, leading to his arrest in January.

Alongside a requested nine-year prison term, the prosecution seeks €150,000 (£130,000) in compensation for the complainant.

Alves, who has been in prison without bail for the past ten months, maintains his innocence, asserting that the encounter was consensual.

In Spain, allegations of non-consensual relations fall under the general charge of assault, with convictions typically resulting in prison sentences ranging from four to 15 years.

Recently, a Barcelona court determined there were sufficient grounds for Alves to stand trial, following requests from both the public prosecutor and the complainant's lawyer.

"The statements of the alleged victim and the witnesses statements and experts' reports that appear in the case must be considered as sufficient for this purpose, without prejudice to the final outcome following the plenary phase," the court said in a statement via Football Espana.

Alves initially denied having encounter with the complainant, before changing his story and admitting to having consensual moment with her, per Daily Star.

The 40-year-old later explained that his initial denial was an attempt to conceal his infidelity from his wife, Joana Sanz, from whom he has since separated.

Alves has reportedly made his debut for a prison football team, after his arrest over an alleged nightclub assault.

The Brazilian is being held at the Brians II prison in Spain, where he reportedly showed football skills to his co-prisoners.

According to Spanish publication Diario AS, the right full-back played with other prisoners in the courtyard last Thursday.