Dani Alves found guilty of sexual assault and will serve a prison sentence

Dani Alves has been found guilty in a case of sexual assault against a woman in Barcelona and has been sentenced to four years and six months in prison.

He will also have to pay compensation of 150,000 euros to the victim. The decision was announced this Thursday in a court in Barcelona.

"The victim did not consent, and there is evidence, in addition to the complainant's testimony, which allows the rape to be considered proven," the court stated in a press release. The 40-year-old defender, according to the prosecution, has a version of events that does not align with the victim's, who has "an absolutely credible history" of experiencing violence and rape, while the Brazilian changed his version four times since he was detained.

The defense of the Brazilian international can appeal this sentence.

It is worth noting that the Spanish Public Prosecutor's Office was seeking nine years in prison for the former Brazilian international, whom it accuses of the crime of sexual assault for allegedly raping a 23-year-old woman in the bathroom of a nightclub in Barcelona in December 2022.

On the other hand, the prosecution, led by lawyer Ester García, was seeking a twelve-year prison sentence and the same compensation as the Public Prosecutor's Office, 150,000 euros.

As for the player's defense, who denies the rape allegations, they asked the court for his acquittal or, alternatively, a conviction to one year in prison for sexual assault.

The former right-back, who played for Barcelona, PSG, Juventus, and Pumas, among others, was arrested on January 20, 2023, and has been held at the Can Brians 2 prison facility in Barcelona ever since.