Dani Alves was the player Lionel Messi said was the finest right back in the world, and the right back many hailed as the greatest of all time. On Thursday, after being found guilty of raping a woman in a Barcelona nightclub, he became a figure of disgust and disgrace.
Alves was integral to Pep Guardiola’s “tiki-taka” Barcelona team and one of the most successful footballers in history, winning 43 trophies in total, but it was his personality that captured the imagination of the Barcelona fans. Now, all that arrogance and bravado will for ever be remembered in a different light after the disdain with which he treated his 23-year-old victim.
Alves, 40, changed his story five times before the case went to trial, while the victim’s statements remained consistent throughout. She told of how Alves summoned her over to his VIP area in Barcelona’s Sutton nightclub on the night of December 30, 2022, and how she initially refused, only to agree because he was so insistent. Alves later led her into a private room where, according to the sentencing, he “grabbed her roughly, threw her on the floor, prevented her from moving and penetrated her vaginally, even though the victim said no and that she wanted to leave”. After raping her, Alves blocked her from leaving, telling her: “You’re not leaving, I’m going to leave before you.”
Before being taken into custody in January 2023, Alves first claimed nothing happened between him and the victim. He then claimed they had sex, but with her consent, insisting he previously lied only to stop his wife from finding out. He later said his judgment was impaired by how drunk he was, with his wife corroborating that he returned home that night unable to speak.
Last month, Alves’s mother, Lucia, illegally revealed the victim’s identity by posting a video of her on social media, appearing to have a good time with friends and family, in an attempt to discredit her and cast doubt on her trauma. In court, the judge said the actions of the Alves entourage had exacerbated the victim’s already severe post-traumatic stress.
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Alves will appeal his sentence of 4½ years, even though the minimum sentence for this type of crime in Spain was four years and prosecutors were seeking a 12-year term in jail. The court even considered the fact Alves paid the victim €150,000, money which, according to reports in Brazil, he paid with the help of his former Barcelona and Brazil team-mate, Neymar.
• Dani Alves found guilty of nightclub rape and jailed
When the Barcelona head coach Xavi, who played with Alves and re-signed him for the club in 2021, was first asked about the Brazilian’s arrest, he defended him in a way he quickly regretted. “I feel very bad for Dani, because I know him,” Xavi said. “I’m shocked and surprised because of how he always behaved when he was with us.”
A day later, after heavy criticism of his comments, the 44-year-old said: “I want to clarify what I said yesterday about Alves. It’s a very sensitive and important issue. We have to condemn all these acts, whoever does it. I apologise to the victim and to the victims of sexual violence.”
For Xavi, like many Barcelona fans, the image of Alves the footballer presumably still reigned supreme. In his first spell for Barcelona, Alves played 391 times, scored 21 goals and registered 101 assists, from right back or right wing. He was Guardiola’s first signing, arriving for €35 million from Sevilla in 2008, and won everything, including two Trebles, three Champions Leagues and six La Liga titles. “Alves is the best right back in the world,” Messi said. João Cancelo, the former Manchester City right back, went further. “I didn’t see much of Cafu, I was too young,” he said. “But Daniel Alves, in my opinion, is the most complete, the best right back in history.”
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Alves’s surging runs and pinpoint crosses were unparalleled but his personality was part of the package too. He wore flamboyant haircuts, countless tattoos and sunglasses when it rained. He was also seen as Barcelona through and through. He had offered to donate one of his kidneys to Eric Abidal when his team-mate had cancer diagnosed in 2011, and in 2021 he told the president, Joan Laporta, that to rejoin the debt-stricken club he would happily play for free.
When Alves’s return was confirmed, more than 10,000 fans turned up to greet him at the Nou Camp, where he signed his contract on the pitch. As he kissed the pen, they chanted “Alves, Alves” — the name now tarnished with shame, repulsion and regret.
