30 January 2023 , 09:55
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Brazil international Dani Alves has spoken for the first time since his arrest over a sexual assault allegation earlier this month.
Alves allegedly sexually assaulted a woman in a nightclub last month. A spokesperson on behalf of Alves has already clarified that he “vehemently denies” the allegation.
Alves was arrested at the Mossos d'Esquadra de Les Corts police station in Barcelona on 20 January and was remanded in custody without bail on charges of sexual assault.
The veteran full-back subsequently had his contract at Mexican club Pumas terminated, with a statement from the club reading: "We will not tolerate actions that go against the values of this institution."
Dani Alves left Barcelona for a second time last year (Getty Images)Alves is currently being held in the Brians 2 prison complex in Sant Esteve Sesrovires, having been transferred from Brians 1 last week.
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A report from La Vanguardia has now quoted Alves as saying from prison: “I will accept whatever comes. I left home when I was barely 15 years old. I have overcome very difficult and complicated situations in my life. This will be one more that will pass. Nothing scares me.”
In an interview earlier this month prior to his arrest, Alves told Spanish TV channel Antena 3 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 made 17 appearances for Barcelona in his second stint at the club (Joan Valls)Cristobal Martell, the lawyer representing Alves, has claimed that the reason for Alves providing inconsistent statements on the alleged incident was due to the footballer being "afraid of revealing in public that he had been unfaithful to his wife."
The veteran full-back, aged 39, was a surprise inclusion in the Brazil squad for this winter’s World Cup. Alves had his brief second stint at Barcelona ended in the summer by the Catalan club before he joined Mexican club UNAM on a contract for the remainder of the calendar year.
The right-back has been capped 126 times for the Brazil national team and has won four trophies with the nation – two Copa America crowns and two Confederation Cup titles. However, he has never tasted glory in the World Cup, after the nation were eliminated by Croatia in the quarter-final stage.
Barca did not extend the short-term contract of Alves after he joined the club in November 2021 on a short-term deal for the remainder of the campaign. He was the first signing of Xavi Hernandez at the Camp Nou last season but did not have his short-term deal at the Camp Nou renewed, despite making 17 domestic appearances in the run-in of the campaign.