Alves’ defence strategy - don’t get divorced

Dani Alves’ lawyers have a clear mission: ensure that their client avoids prison. And, according to La Razón, part of the strategy to achieve that would involve the footballer not separating from his current wife, Joana Alves - at least until the trial is held and a sentence is handed down.

The Spanish newspaper recounts that, the model would have reached an agreement with the Brazilian’s legal team to offer her support, at least when she is called to the stand. For the defence, it is essential that his current wife, whom he married in 2017, can show that she trusts him.

See also: Joana Sanz says goodbye to Dani Alves

The situation however, is not that simple. According to sources close to the couple, the relationship between the pair may have broken beyond repair. Alves’ wife would have used her visit to prison last weekend to talk to him about exactly what happened in Sutton on 30 December. A 23-year-old alleged he raped her in a bathroom in the private room of the Barcelona nightclub.

Alves’ wife would also have taken advantage of the meeting with her husband to discuss the conditions of the divorce, and how they would go about it so that the separation would not harm the criminal proceedings - especially as his testimony could be undermined by the fact that his own wife did not trust him.

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Possible move to Paris

For the time being, the model will be trying to remain calm. According to journalist Carlos Quílez’s comments on Antena 3 programme Y now Sonsoles, she has decided to move to Paris.

This would be the reason why she visited the French capital a few days ago, with the intention of looking for a rental flat and starting a new life there, far from the family home in Esplugues de Llobregat. Her idea would be to start anew, settle down in Paris over the coming weeks or months, although that might depend on the available job opportunities on offer.