What did the friend of former Barcelona player Dani Alves say about his alleged sexual assault?

Former Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Pumas defender Dani Alves remains in prison following an alleged sexual assault on a young woman in Sutton nightclub in the Catalan capital. Journalist Carlos Quílez of the Y Ahora Sonoles program, which airs on Spanish television channel Antena 3, spoke with Bruno Brasil, a friend of the soccer player, who was there on the night in question and gave his version of events.

Brazil jumps to defence of friend Alves

Brasil jumped to the defence of his friend, protesting his innocence, while at the same time attempting to discredit the alleged victim’s complaint. “Dani talked to everyone, like me. But more with her. She went up to him from time to time, dancing and brushing up against him, drawing his attention”, he stated.

Brasil said that “at a certain point of the night, Dani moved away from her to talk to the other friends but the same young woman approached him again. They went in and out [of the bathroom] separately and about fifteen minutes passed.” Following the assault is alleged to have taken place, Brasil claimed that “we had a normal conversation, nothing strange was said. When she left the bathroom, she gave me a high five and her cousin gave me a kiss on the cheek”.

Alves requests to make new statement

Dani Alves has requested, via his defence lawyer, to give a new statement about the alleged incident, in which he will most likely declare that the sexual relations which took place were consensual. He will try to prove this theory using footage from CCTV cameras at Sutton.

Since he was arrested on 21 January, the Brazil international has been held in custody and denied bail. Alves was deemed a flight risk because of his considerable wealth.

Brasil’s role in the case

Bruno Brasil has played a prominent role throughout the case, as he has been the main link between Alves and his now ex-wife Joana Sanz. Brasil, a chef and nutritionist, is the only person who has visited his friend in prison and also picked Sanz up from the airport on one of her last trips to see her ex-husband.

As well as Sanz, Brasil has also been in contact with the plaintiff’s cousin, writing the following message to her on Instagram: “Let’s be buddies. My house is in...I’m not always here, but I’m available here for whatever you need”.