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      I played with Messi for seven years at Barcelona but he wasn’t a great friend – we had to be separated during a bust-up

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      A BARCELONA legend – who could soon be their new manager – has lifted the lid on a row with Lionel Messi that forced Pep Guardiola to intervene.And he insists that both he and the icon Argentina forward were just merely work colleagues and not friends.
      Rafael Marquez became a legend at Barcelona and now coaches their B teamCredit: Getty
      He had a bitter falling out with Lionel Messi while at the Nou CampCredit: AFP
      The man in question is Mexican icon Rafael Marquez, who is now back at the Nou Camp as boss of their second team.
      The 44-year-old, who has been touted as the replacement for Xavi in the Barcelona dug-out this summer, spent seven years playing for the club until 2010.
      He won the LaLiga titel four times and the Champions League plus a number of other honours during that period as the then-teenage Messi burst onto the scene.
      However, Messi’s continual dribbling in training left Marquez fuming.
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      He has now revealed how it led to him losing his temper as a huge argument erupted between them.
      And he says it got so bad that ex-boss Guardiola, now in charge of Manchester City, had to step in.
      Speaking to Yordi Rosada, Marquez said: “We knew that Leo could dribble to three or four players, but sometimes exaggerated it a lot.
      “We tried to direct it, saying to him: ‘Here you dribble, here you don’t’.
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      “By my strong insistence in these instructions, started a problem between Messi and I.
      “We began to exchange words and Guardiola had to intervene to solve the problem.
      GRAPHIC-VID_LIONEL_MESSI
      “Messi and I were not big friends, we were colleagues.”
      Marquez had spells with New York Red Bulls, Leon, Hellas Verona and Atlas prior to hanging up his boots in 2018.
      Messi, meanwhile, left in 2021 to join Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer after smashing dozens of records at Barcelona, before moving on to Inter Miami, where he currently plays.
      Both players have starred in five World Cups, with the latter leading Argentina to glory in Qatar in December 2022. More

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      Barcelona to rival Man Utd and Arsenal for Amadou Onana transfer… but can get nowhere near Everton’s asking price

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      BARCELONA will join the race to sign Amadou Onana – but only if Everton drop their £51m asking price.Like the cash-strapped Toffees, Barcelona have their own financial issues and cannot afford to go beyond £34m as things stand.
      Barcelona have joined the chase for Everton’s Amadou OnanaCredit: Getty
      But the Spanish giants are monitoring the midfielder’s situation closely.
      Everton will hope to generate an auction for Onana this summer.
      Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea are all among the clubs to have him on their shortlist.
      The 22-year-old Belgian international arrived at Goodison Park from Lille for £33.5m after snubbing West Ham in August 2022.
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      He instantly became a key player under Frank Lampard.
      And he remains an integral part of the Toffees team under Sean Dyche as they fight relegation.

      Onana is under contract at Everton until 2027 after penning a five-year deal upon his arrival.
      Man United boss Erik ten Hag is also still keen to revive interest in Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong.
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      The Old Trafford club have been linked with a £120m double swoop for De Jong and Nou Camp team-mate Ronald Araujo.
      If Barca received a big fee for one or both players, it would give them a better chance of competing for Onana without risking a breach of FFP rules.
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      Chelsea ready to hijack Man Utd’s bid to finally seal Frenkie de Jong transfer as Blues line up massive bid

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      CHELSEA have reportedly joined Manchester United in the race to sign Frenkie de Jong from Barcelona this summer.De Jong, 26, is finally open to leaving the La Liga giants at the end of the season.
      Chelsea could hijack Man Utd’s pursuit of Frenkie De JongCredit: Getty
      According to journalist Lluis Canut, the Dutchman is underwhelmed with Barcelona’s current state both on and off the pitch.
      And for the first time since arriving at the Nou Camp in 2019 he is “no longer closing the door on leaving” the club.
      Man Utd pushed to sign him in the summer of 2022, shortly after Erik ten Hag took over as manager.
      Following extensive talks, Barcelona accepted a huge bid worth £71.5million, but De Jong rejected the move.
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      United are now set to re-enter the race for the midfielder, but they face competition from Premier League rivals Chelsea.
      According to Spanish outlet Sport, the Blues are prepared to table a bid worth up to £85m for De Jong.
      While Paris Saint-Germain have also expressed an interest in signing him.
      The Dutchman joined Barcelona in a £64m transfer from Ajax in 2019 and has since made 205 first team appearances.
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      De Jong has been a key first team player for Barcelona this season
      Barca chiefs allegedly want to tie him down to a new contract until 2029, but they have found it “impossible” to reach an agreement.
      Xavi’s side currently sit third in the La Liga table, eight points adrift of leaders Real Madrid.
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      Enzo Fernandez ‘wants to leave Chelsea and offers himself to Barcelona despite having 8 YEARS left on contract’

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      CHELSEA midfielder Enzo Fernandez is keen on joining Barcelona, according to reports.Fernandez, 23, signed for the Blues in a £107million transfer from Benfica last winter.
      Enzo Fernandez allegedly wants to join BarcelonaCredit: Getty
      He completed the switch just one month after winning the World Cup with Argentina and signed an eight-and-a-half year contract upon his arrival at Stamford Bridge.
      However, the midfielder is now understood to be open to a move away.
      And according to Spanish outlet Sport, he wants to join Barcelona.
      The La Liga giants consider Fernandez a top target, but their financial issues will likely prevent a deal from happening.
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      His current contract runs until 2032 so Barcelona would have to table a significant offer for Chelsea to even consider selling.
      Recent reports have claimed that Fernandez is unhappy at Stamford Bridge, largely due to Chelsea’s poor run of form.
      After finishing 12th in the Premier League table last season, the Blues have failed to make much progression.
      They currently sit 11th, behind the likes of Wolves, Newcastle and Brighton.
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      But Fernandez appeared to squash the exit rumours on Wednesday during Chelsea’s FA Cup fourth round replay against Aston Villa.
      After scoring a stunning free kick to put the Blues 3-0 up in the 54th minute, the midfielder held his shirt up to the cameras and pointed to his name.
      Chelsea’s 3-1 FA Cup win at Aston Villa was the team’s best performance of the season, says Mauricio Pochettino
      Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino later said: “Today, Enzo showed why he’s here and he showed his quality.
      “But we didn’t have any doubts about him, or about Caicedo or about different players, young players that arrived here with expectation to win titles and to score with every single touch!

      “He is a world champion player. Look, when he signed one year ago, he arrived after nearly two years with no holidays, no rest, with the pressure, still young, different environment, different language, different culture, a team that needs time to build.
      “All of these types of circumstance, you need time. I don’t want to annoy the people. For me, it’s not an excuse. I want to be here because I really believe in the project, I really believe in the player.
      “But please, stop to create expectation that does match to the reality and help the players that are here to try and build something.
      “Of course, if that happens again, we will be there to help. It does not surprise me because Enzo has the quality, not only to score this type of goal, but to perform in the way today he performed.” More

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      Barcelona ‘draw up shortlist of names to replace Xavi’ including Premier League quartet and Liverpool legend

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      BARCELONA have reportedly compiled a shortlist of eight potential managers to replace Xavi Hernandez, with four of the Premier League’s creme de la creme in hiring-range.Xavi announced last month that he would be leaving Barca this summer, which marks the end of his third season.
      Xavi Hernandez announced he would be leaving Barcelona at the end of the season.Credit: Getty
      In a press conference that shocked fans, he said the club needed a ‘change of dynamic,’ and he was taking the decision for ‘the good of the board, and the club.’ 
      The announcement came off the back of a 5-3 loss at home to Villarael who currently sit 14th in LaLiga, a defeat that reflected Barcelona’s struggle to find form this season. 
      Xavi’s contract was due to expire at the end of the season anyway, but his statement shut down any potential of his staying on at the club. 
      All eyes turned to his replacement and Deportivo Mundo claim the following names are in the frame.
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      Mikel Arteta
      Mikel Arteta has recently been criticised for over-celebrating Arsenal’s victory against LiverpoolCredit: Getty
      The Arsenal boss is a logical proposition seeing as he came through Barcelona’s academy himself and his attacking style of play already suits the Nou Camp club. 
      But Arteta recently shut down rumours of a potential move to Barca as ‘fake news’, not to mention his contract at Arsenal doesn’t officially expire until 2025.
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      Luis Enrique
      Paris Saint-Germain manager has been touted to replace XaviCredit: Rex
      The Paris Saint-Germain manager is an attractive prospect given he coached the club when they won a Treble in 2015 and is aligned with the attacking Barca style of play.
      But he’s in the same boat as Arteta, currently sitting on a contract that does not expire until next year, and Mundo reckons he ‘usually fulfils his commitments.’
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      Roberto De Zerbi
      Roberto De Zerbi has led Brighton to new heightsCredit: Getty
      The Italian has masterminded the meteoric rise of The Seagulls which landed them in sixth place last season and bang slap into the Europa League.
      De Zerbi’s dynamic style suits Barca, but Mundo point out his lack of experience managing players of the very top calibre might stand against him.  
      Xabi Alonso
      Xabi Alonso is top of the betting to replace Jurgen Klopp at LiverpoolCredit: Getty
      Alonso is having something of a golden hour as he leads the Bundesliga table with Bayern Leverkusen as well as the betting to replace Klopp at Liverpool, where he used to be a star player.
      He ticks all the boxes in terms of style of play, but might be hindered by his links with other clubs; firstly Liverpool, and also Real Madrid, where he spent five years coaching.
      Hansi Flick
      Hansi Flick was the first manager ever to get fired from the German National teamCredit: Getty
      The ex-German coach has ‘personality and good taste for the game’ , although it did not prevent him from being the first German coach ever to get the sack after the national team lost 4-1 to Japan.
      He does have an impressive record with Bayern Munich under his belt, and president Joan Laporta is reportedly ‘attracted to the German school of technicians.’
      Unai Emery
      Unai Emery is currently sitting fourth in the Premiere League with Aston VillaCredit: Getty
      Emery’s having a brilliant season with Aston Villa, and his hefty coaching experience at Almeria, Valencia, Arsenal and Villarreal will add to his cause too.
      But his disaster at PSG in the Champions League in 2017, when he threw away a 4-0 lead to lose 6-1 to Barcelona, may still hang over him.
      Jurgen Klopp
      Jurgen Klopp shocked the sporting world when he announced he would be leaving LiverpoolCredit: Rex
      Earlier this season Klopp made the bombshell announcement that he would be leaving The Reds come the end of the season, citing burnout as the reason. 
      This makes him a far-fetched option, but Mundo notes that Laporta still admires the intensity of Klopp’s game as well as his character.
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      Sergio Conceicao
      Sergio Conceicao is one of the least likely candidatesCredit: Getty
      The current Porto manager’s contract will expire in June and the Portugese club are assuming he will not be staying on.
      However, his reputation as being an ‘unflexibe’ coach with a ‘volcanic’ personality that he does not hide from the media is a factor that could put Barca off. More

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      Barcelona ‘ready to axe SIX first-team stars including ex-Chelsea ace Marcos Alonso and club legend

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      BARCELONA are already going to be without manager Xavi at the start of next season.And it seems that there could be a mass exodus of players too with the club reportedly looking to shift on six stars in the summer.
      Marcos Alonso looks to be on his way out of Barcelona this summerCredit: Getty
      Sergi Roberto could face a similar fateCredit: Rex
      According to Spanish outlet SPORT, Barcelona are planning a “new project” which will mean a new gaffer and five or six departures from the club.
      Former Chelsea star Marcos Alonso is one of those who is expected to head for the exit doors as his contract is set to expire at the end of the season.
      While La Masia graduate Sergi Roberto is likely to see his 18-year spell at the Catalan club come to an end too with his contract also up in the summer.
      Barca are also hoping to raise funds by selling some other players amid their financial struggles in recent times.
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      Oriol Romeu is one name who could be shifted on with Xavi the driving force for his arrival at the club this summer.
      While Ex-Leeds United star Raphinha is another name that could pull in some money for the cash-strapped outfit.
      Raphinha arrived at Barcelona in 2022 for around £55m and could fetch a similar fee if he is sold at the end of the season.
      The Brazilian has managed 14 goals and 19 assists in his 70 appearances since swapping West Yorkshire for Spain.
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      Barca will reportedly also look at at their back-line as a way of raising funds with five centre-backs currently on the payroll.
      Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen and Jules Kounde have all been named as potential casualties of the new-look rebuild in Catalonia.
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      Barcelona currently sit third in La Liga and are eight points off league leaders Real Madrid.
      They now face an uphill battle to return to their best with the knowledge that a new boss will be in charge at the start of next season.
      Ronald Araujo is one player who could be sold with Bayern Munich reportedly interestedCredit: Getty
      Raphinha could also be up for grabsCredit: AP More

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      Dani Alves denies ‘nightclub toilet rape’ & says ‘I’m not that type of man’ as ex-Barcelona star faces 12 years in jail

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      EX BARCELONA star Dani Alves has denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a young woman in a nightclub.After two days of testimonies from the alleged victim, witnesses, and experts, the 40-year-old defender told a Spanish court that their encounter had been consensual. 
      Dani Alves has testified in court on the last day of his three-day trialCredit: Reuters
      Model Joana Sanz said her ex-husband “stank of alcohol” when he went home the night of the alleged attackCredit: EPA
      The verdict is expected to be delivered in weeks
      The Brazilian footballer is accused of raping a woman in the toilet of  Sutton nightclub in Barcelona in the early hours of December 31, 2022.
      He has denied any wrongdoing, telling his defence lawyer that he is “not that type of man”.
      His accuser told the prosecution that she had been dancing with the footballer and had willingly entered the bathroom with him, but that he forced her to stay after she wanted to leave.
      She claims that he was aggressive with her, slapping her and insulting her, and then forced her to have sex with him.
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      In response, Alves said: “She never told me to stop. We were both enjoying ourselves.”
      He claimed that the woman never asked to leave the bathroom and also denied having been aggressive with her.
      State prosecutors are seeking for him to be jailed for nine years if convicted while the lawyers representing his accuser want 12 years.
      Alves was escorted in handcuffs into the small courtroom of Barcelona’s Audiencia Provincial Court for the trial that is expected to conclude today.
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      A verdict normally takes weeks to be delivered.
      The alleged victim testified on Monday behind closed doors on order of the court.
      State prosecutors asked for the court to take extra measures to protect her identity after a video circulated on social media last month that allegedly identified the woman.
      During the first day of the footballer’s trial a friend and cousin of his accuser claimed he also groped them in the VIP area.
      The two women claim he then invited their friend, the alleged rape victim, to follow him through a separate door after flirting with her.
      The dad-of-two has previously confirmed he had sex with a woman in the nightclub’s toilet but insisted it was consensual.
      His ex-wife Joana Sanz told the court Alves Sanz told the court Alves “smelled of alcohol” and “he bumped into several pieces of furniture and collapsed on the bed” after arriving home the night of the alleged assault.
      But she said she didn’t want to talk to him because of “the state he was in”.
      Alves initially claimed he had never met his female accuser before telling a judge in a court hearing he had lied to cover up his “marital infidelity.”
      The footballer was ordered to stand trial last November.
      He was sacked by Mexican side UNAM Pumas following his arrest after he flew back to Barcelona to attend his mother-in-law’s funeral.
      He has made repeated bail requests but they have all been turned down, with judges saying his alleged victim’s version of events was coherent and pointing out Alves had changed his story several times as the evidence authorities have against him has emerged.
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      As well as two spells at Barcelona, Alves has played for Seville, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Sao Paulo.
      He is widely considered one of the greatest full-backs of all time and became the oldest player to represent Brazil at the World Cup in December 2022 in Qatar.
      Alves’ family speaking to a court official in Barcelona
      Alves has denied any wrongdoingCredit: AFP
      He has been accused of raping a woman in the toilets of Sutton in BarcelonaTimeline of Dani Alves’s case

      December 30, 2022: A woman alleges she was sexually assaulted in the toilets of Sutton nightclub
      January 1, 2023: Cops in Barcelona are investigating an alleged sexual assault in a nightclub involving Dani Alves.
      January 5, 2023: Dani Alves’s alleged victim makes a formal complaint claiming she was sexually assaulted
      CCTV footage shows Alves had been alone for 47 seconds in a toilet at the nightclub with his accuser
      January 20, 2023: Alves had been remanded in custody by a judge in Barcelona
      He initially denies ever meeting his accuser but later confirms they had sex in the nightclub’s toilets – but insists was consensual
      January 31, 2023: His wife Joana Sanz, 29, demands divorce
      February 8, 2023: It emerges that Alves is said to be receiving ‘VIP treatment’ in prison
      March 17, 2023: Alves is going on hunger strike following split from wife
      November 14, 2023: The footballer is ordered to stand trial for the alleged assault
      November 24, 2023: Prosecutors demand nine years jail time and to pay the alleged victim  £130,000, if found guilty
      February 5, 2024: Alves appears in court in Spain facing twelve years in jail
      February 6 2024: Joana Sanz testified in court about a “drunk” phone call her husband made to her after the alleged assault More

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      Dani Alves appears in court for ‘nightclub toilet rape’ trial as ex-Barcelona star, 40, faces 12 years in prison

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      FORMER Barcelona star Dani Alves is set to appear in court this morning as he is facing a 12-year prison sentence for rape.The 40-year-old Brazilian defender was driven to court in a police van from Brians 2 Prison near Barcelona where he has been held on remand for more than a year.
      Dani Alves is facing 12 years behind bars after he was accused of rapeCredit: AFP
      The footballer appeared in court in Barcelona this morningCredit: Reuters
      Prosecutors are also seeking a compensation payment of £128,000Credit: EPA
      The footballer’s mum Lucia Alves arrived in court in Barcelona for his trialCredit: AFP
      A van of Barcelona’s Mossos d’Esquadra arrives at the High Court of Justice of CataloniaCredit: AFP
      Alves’s family speaking to a court official in BarcelonaCredit: AFP
      Media outside the court ahead of Alves’s trialCredit: Rex
      State prosecutors have said they wanted him jailed for nine years if convicted of raping a woman in a Barcelona nightclub on December 30, 2022.
      The dad-of-two has previously confirmed he had sex with a woman in the nightclub’s toilet but insisted it was consensual.
      A lawyer acting for Alves’ female accuser, has called for him to face the maximum 12-year prison sentence if he is found guilty.
      Both prosecutors are also seeking a compensation payment of £128,000.
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      Failing an eleventh-hour plea bargain deal, the trial will start at 10am local time at Barcelona’s Audiencia Provincial Court and is scheduled to last for three days.
      The three judges, who are sitting without a jury as is normal in Spain for sex crime cases, have around a fortnight to return their verdict once the trial ends and will announce their decision in a written ruling.
      Alves, who can opt to take the stand on the last day, has insisted he had consensual sex with the woman who has accused him of forcing himself on her.
      At first he had claimed to have never met the woman in question, before backtracking at a later date and saying the pair had consensual sex.
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      It was also initially reported he had put his hands down a woman’s underwear in the club’s VIP area’s toilets, but it later emerged the 23-year-old was alleging she had been the victim of rape.
      She has been given permission to testify behind-closed-doors.
      Dani Alves’ estranged wife shares kiss with female pal on Instagram after ‘demanding divorce’ over star’s rape charges
      Her cousin and a female friend who were with her the night of the alleged sex attack are among the witnesses called to give evidence along with waiters in the VIP area of Sutton’s where Alves met the woman whose accusations ended with his arrest and incarceration ahead of today’s trial.
      Alves’ wife Joana Sanz will testify on behalf of the footballer following his pre-trial public apology to the model for “cheating on her” with the woman who claims he raped her.
      The footballer was ordered to stand trial last November.
      Initially, it was reported Alves had been accused of putting his hands down a woman’s underwear inside a toilet in the VIP area of Sutton nightclub before it emerged his alleged victim was saying she had been raped.
      He was sacked by Mexican side UNAM Pumas following his arrest in Barcelona at the start of last year after he flew back to the Catalan capital to attend his mother-in-law’s funeral.
      He has made repeated bail requests but they have all been turned down, with judges saying his alleged victim’s version of events was coherent and pointing out Alves had changed his story several times as the evidence authorities have against him has emerged.
      Alves claimed before his arrest he had never met his female accuser but ended up backtracking after being held.
      In an exclusive interview from his cell in Brians 2 Prison near Barcelona last June with Spanish TV and newspaper reporter Mayka Navarro, he claimed: “The only person I have to ask for forgiveness is my wife, Joana Sanz.”
      As well as two spells at Barcelona, Alves has played for Seville, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Sao Paulo.
      He is widely considered one of the greatest full-backs of all time.
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      He became the oldest player to represent Brazil at the World Cup in December 2022 in Qatar.
      At the start of the year his mum Lucia Alves caused controversy and left herself open to future prosecution by naming and picturing her son’s rape accuser in a social media post she has now removed.
      The dad-of-two is facing 12 years behind bars
      He was accused of raping a woman in the toilets of Sutton nightclub in Barcelona
      The Brazilian defender admitted having sex with a woman in the nightclub but insisted it was consensualCredit: PA:Press Association
      He has publicly apologised to his wife Joana Sanz
      Timeline of Dani Alves’s case
      December 30, 2022: A woman alleges she was sexually assaulted in the toilets of Sutton nightclub
      January 1, 2023: Cops in Barcelona are investigating an alleged sexual assault in a nightclub involving Dani Alves.
      January 5, 2023: Dani Alves’s alleged victim makes a formal complaint claiming she was sexually assaulted
      CCTV footage shows Alves had been alone for 47 seconds in a toilet at the nightclub with his accuser
      January 20, 2023: Alves had been remanded in custody by a judge in Barcelona
      He initially denies ever meeting his accuser but later confirms they had sex in the nightclub’s toilets – but insists was consensual
      January 31, 2023: His wife Joana Sanz, 29, demands divorce
      February 8, 2023: It emerges that Alves is said to be receiving ‘VIP treatment’ in prison
      March 17, 2023: Alves is going on hunger strike following split from wife
      November 14, 2023: The footballer is ordered to stand trial for the alleged assault
      November 24, 2023: Prosecutors demand nine years jail time and to pay the alleged victim  £130,000, if found guilty
      February 5, 2024: Alves appears in court in Spain facing twelve years in jail More