DISGRACED footballer Dani Alves has been seen playing football for the first time since his release from prison in Spain.
A new video appeared to show the convicted rapist playing alongside his pals and fans at a pitch in Barcelona.
The 41-year-old Brazilian spent just four weeks of his sentence behind bars after a rape conviction – stumping up £850k to be released on bail.
Ex-Barcelona star Alves hopes to be acquitted and restore his public image, eventually making a shocking comeback to the sport, El Pais reports.
But the shamed rapist already gave a glimpse of his return as he joined a casual match on an artificial turf pitch in Barcelona, according to Spanish outlet Marca.
Alves reportedly organised the match through a mobile app designed to help users find local players and set up informal matches with people they don’t necessarily know.
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The disgraced ace added an unexpected twist to his appearance by going to the game with several friends and wearing a jersey from Boca Juniors, an Argentine team he has never played for.
The other players didn’t seem to notice the Brazilian football player at first, but soon enough, his presence created a stir.
Alves started to get recognised by the crowd, with many asking for pictures with the convicted rapist after the game.
He served a few weeks of his four-and-a-half-year sentence before being released on bail from a prison near Barcelona in March.
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According to reports, Alves and his estranged wife Joana Sanz are holed up in their £4million Spanish mansion for most of the time.
But the former footballer did recently visit a high-end Barcelona hotel, enjoying wagyu beef steak with a friend, El Periodico reports.
The pair reportedly dined on a variety of expensive dishes from the steakhouse restaurant as Alves spoke to press about his parole terms.
Alves told a reporter he has to “play a game” in court during weekly appearances while on bail.
Struggling financially since losing his income and hefty sponsorship, the shamed footballer does not expect football clubs or companies to return even if he is acquitted, El Pais reports.
It is not clear exactly in what role he plans to return to the world of professional football.
The Brazilian had made several attempts before his conviction to get bail, but they were turned down in part because he was deemed a flight risk.
Days of speculation preceded his release from jail over where the money was going to come from.
Despite earning over £45million across his successful career, Alves had his bank accounts frozen when he was sat in his jail cell meaning he couldn’t fund his own release.
Just hours after the disgraced star was released he hosted an all-night party at his £4.5m mansion in Esplugues de LLobregat – a 25-minute drive west of Barcelona.
Dani Alves rape case: a timeline
DECEMBER 30, 2022: Brazilian footballer Dani Alves allegedly raped a woman in a nightclub in Barcelona.
JANUARY 20, 2023: Alves is arrested and is held in pre-trial detention.
FEBRUARY 2024: In a trial held in Barcelona, the footballer denied the allegations and said the encounter had been consensual.
Held at Barcelona’s Audiencia Provincial Court, the trial lasted three days and saw the victim, witnesses, and experts testify.
His accuser told the prosecution that she had willingly entered the bathroom with him, but that he forced her to stay after she wanted to leave.
In court she claimed that he was aggressive with her, slapping her and insulting her, and then forced her to have sex with him.
Following the trial, Alves was found guilty of raping the woman.
FEBRUARY 22, 2024: Alves was convicted and sentenced to four and a half years in prison.
The court also ordered Alves to pay £130K (150,000 euros) in compensation to the victim.
Alves’ lawyers immediately appealed his sentence.
MARCH 20, 2024: A Barcelona court released Alves on a bail of €1million (£850k) pending an appeal on his conviction.
MARCH 25, 2024: Convicted rapist Alves left Brians 2 Prison after spending just weeks behind bars – stumping up £850k to be released on bail.
PRESENT DAY: His defence is seeking his acquittal while the prosecutor wants his prison sentence increased to nine years.
There is no date yet for the new trial at a higher court in Barcelona. It can then go to the Supreme Court in Madrid.
Meanwhile, Alves and his estranged wife Joana Sanz are holed up in their £4million Spanish mansion in the outskirts of Barcelona.
Days later, Spanish media reported that supermodel Sanz had already paid Alves a visit.
Following reports that their marriage was over, Sanz shared a picture of the pair holding hands with matching tattoos to her Instagram last week.
Alves, once a serial winner on the football pitch with 44 medals to his name, was arrested by Catalan police in January 2023 and spent over a year behind bars afterwards.
Dani Alves was accused of raping the woman in a nightclub in Barcelona on December 30, 2022.
He claimed the sexual encounter was consensual, insisting “he would never hurt anyone”.
The player was found guilty of rape and sentenced to four-and-a-half years behind bars in February.
But on March 20, 2024 a court ruled he could appeal his conviction and get out of his hellhole jail while his team, headed by Ines Guardiola, carried out the appeal.
His bail was set at his €1million (£850,000) – a figure originally thought to be getting paid for by pal Neymar Jr’s father, say LaVanguardia.
Neymar da Silva Santos Sr had been expected to help Alves pay the money to secure his freedom, but he issued a statement denying he would hand over any cash after coming under political pressure in his homeland.
The bail conditions set by the court say Alves must stay at least 1,000m away from the home of the victim or any other place she frequently goes.
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He is also banned from ever contacting her and must handover his Brazilian and Spanish passports.
The court feared Alves could leave Spain and travel to his native Brazil to try and avoid serving any more jail time.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
