‘I’m not a violent man’: Dani Alves denies raping woman at Spain nightclub

Former Brazil defender, Dani Alves, says he had consensual sex and did not act violently in his encounter with a woman in a Barcelona nightclub in 2022.

Alves said this while giving his testimony in a trial on charges of sexual assault in Spain on Wednesday, February 7, 2024.

Speaking calmly, but ending with tears in his eyes, the 40-year-old former Barcelona defender said the complainant had touched his genitals while dancing and willingly accompanied him to a restroom, where she performed oral sex on him and they had a sexual intercourse.

Asked if he forced her to have sex and acted violently or did not allow her to leave the room, Alves said: “Never. I am not that type of man. I am not a violent man.”

Alves’ remarks late on Wednesday wrapped up three days of testimonies in the trial, which now moves to the deliberation phase by a panel of three judges.

‘Victim crying uncontrollably’: Dani Alves tried for rape in Spain

The public prosecutor has accused Alves of forcing the woman to have sex without her consent and without using a condom. The 23-year-old woman testified behind a screen with her voice distorted to protect her identity.

The prosecutor is seeking a nine-year prison term and for Alves to pay damages worth 150,000 euros ($163,215) to his alleged victim. The complainant seeks a 12-year prison sentence.

Alves was arrested in January 2023 and has since been held on remand.

He initially denied any sexual encounter with the woman whom he said he did not know. He later said he had consensual sex with her in the restroom of a nightclub, adding that he had denied it originally to protect his marriage.

The case has attracted significant attention not only because of Alves’ profile but because sexual assault is a dominant political theme in Spain.

Two of the alleged victim’s friends told the court on Monday that Alves groped them that night before allegedly sexually assaulting their friend at the nightclub.

Alves is widely considered one of the greatest defenders of all time, winning 42 trophies during a highly successful career, including three Champions League wins with Barcelona and two Copa Americas with Brazil.

The peak of his career was with Barcelona between 2008 and 2016 when he won 23 trophies.

At the time of his arrest, he was contracted to Mexican club Pumas UNAM. He was sacked soon after being detained.

The Star