Dani Alves on trial for raping 23-year-old woman in Barcelona nightclub

Former Barcelona star Dani Alves is due to go on trial this morning in Spain for allegedly raping a 23-year-old woman in Barcelona nightclub as he faces a 12-year prison sentence.

The Brazil international, 40, will be driven to court in a police van from Brian 2 Prison near the Catalan capital, where he has been held on remand for over a year.

State prosecutors have said they wanted him jailed for nine years if convicted of raping a 23-year-old woman in a toilet at Barcelona’s upmarket Sutton nightclub on December 30, 2022.

A lawyer acting for Alves’ female accuser, who is prosecuting the father-of-two on her behalf, 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 €150,000 (£128,000).

The former Barcelona defender has denied wrongdoing but admitted to having cheated on his wife with his accuser, insisting sex was consensual.