Façade of Brians 2 prison, pictured in 2018 / Norma Vidal
A Spanish judge denied Dani Alves of Brazil’s request to be released on bail while an investigation into an alleged sexual assault is ongoing.
Alves, 39, has been detained since January on suspicion of assaulting a lady in a nightclub in Barcelona in December. He claims he did nothing wrong.
His lawyer had requested for him to be released if he surrendered his passport and wore an electronic tag.
The court denied the application because it believed he posed a flight risk.
“There is a high risk of fleeing as… the severe punishment he faces in the present case and his economic [resources] might would make it possible for him… to leave Spain at any time,” the Barcelona court said in a statement.
After Alves was placed on remand in detention in January, Mexican team Pumas UNAM terminated his contract.
Between 2008 and 2016, Alves participated in 408 games for Barcelona over two stints, earning six La Liga championships and three Champions Leagues.
In addition to playing for Juventus and Paris St-Germain, the defender has made 126 appearances for Brazil, including two appearances at the 2022 World Cup.