Former Barcelona and Brazil Star Daniel Alves Sentenced to Four and a Half Years in Prison for Rape.

Daniel Alves, the former Barcelona and Brazil star, has been sentenced to four years and six months in prison after being found guilty of raping a woman at a Spanish nightclub.

The verdict was delivered at the Barcelona court where he was tried earlier this month.

The 40-year-old, a father of two, had been in remand at Brians 2 Prison near the Catalan capital since his arrest in January of the previous year.

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Alves, who had protested his innocence during the trial, admitted to engaging in sexual activity in a toilet at an upmarket Barcelona nightclub called Sutton on December 30, 2022, with his 23-year-old accuser. However, he maintained that the encounter was consensual. The victim, testifying behind a screen in court, confirmed that Alves had forced himself on her. A friend who was present during the incident tearfully recalled the victim’s distress after leaving the bathroom.

State prosecutors had sought a nine-year prison sentence, while a private prosecutor acting for the victim demanded a 12-year jail term. Alves, once considered one of the world’s best right-backs, achieved success with Barcelona, PSG, and Juventus, winning a total of 41 trophies during his illustrious career.