Barcelona court investigating Dani Alves over sexual assault allegation

10 January 2023 , 15:26

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Police are investigating an incident reportedly involving Brazilian icon Dani Alves (Image: Getty Images)

Brazil star Dani Alves is being investigated for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman in a Barcelona nightclub last month.

A spokesperson on behalf of Alves said that he “vehemently denies” the allegation.

The 39-year-old full back, who currently plays for Mexican side Pumas, had two spells as a Barca player, between 2008 and ‘16 and a brief return in 2021.

Catalonia’s Supreme Court confirmed that it has opened proceedings "for an alleged crime of sexual assault as a result of the complaint filed by a woman for events that allegedly occurred in a nightclub in Barcelona last month."

A woman claimed to Spanish media that the footballer had reached underneath her underwear without consent while in the Sutton nightclub in the city at the end of December.

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Dani Alves left Barcelona for a second time last year. (Getty Images)

In an interview last week Alves told Antena 3, a Spanish television channel, that he was at the nightclub with friends but denied the assault claims.

"I was dancing and having a good time without invading anyone's space," he said. "I don't know who this lady is. How could I do that to a woman? No."

Alves last month became the oldest player to represent Brazil at a World Cup. He has won 40 major trophies and won more than 120 international caps during a career also including spells at Sevilla, Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain and Sao Paulo.

Alan Smith