A case involving a sexual assault allegation against former FC Barcelona player Daniel Alves is under scrutiny. According to a statement from the footballer’s attorney, Ester García, discussions with the defense have taken place at their request and were treated as confidential. The parties could not reach an understanding due to the gravity of the alleged events and their differing positions on potential penalties.
Reports from El Periódico de Cataluña, part of the Prensa Ibérica group, indicate that the defense examined the possibility of offering compensation to the complainant in a substantial amount. The attorney noted that crimes impacting sexual freedom and the accompanying moral damages have long-lasting consequences, suggesting that any settlement would be difficult if it revolves around financial terms. The statement was made public on Thursday, following news that the victim sent a letter to the court last August to withdraw the decision not to seek compensation when testifying before the investigating judge.
Legal sources cited by El Periódico de Cataluña describe the withdrawal as a procedural step that may accompany the victim’s right to seek compensation for psychological harm caused by the alleged assault, should she decide to pursue it as the case progresses. At present, the prosecutor’s office is the sole party presenting the indictment, which seeks nine years of imprisonment, ten years of supervised release, and 150,000 euros in compensation. This amount had been entered into the court record by Alves at the request of the investigating judge after the case was filed. Alves’s defense argues that depositing this amount should be viewed as a mitigating measure to repair the harm, potentially reducing the sentence to as little as one year of imprisonment if deemed appropriate.
Speeches
The newspaper confirmed that initial meetings occurred months earlier, initiated by Alves’s then-lawyer Cristóbal Martell, with participation from the prosecutor and the victim’s attorney. After testimony before the investigating judge on January 20, no agreement was reached regarding Alves’s request for a clause that would keep him detained. In that session, a proposed three-year sentence and postponement of execution were denied by the prosecution. A substantial monetary offer was also discussed, though the victim’s representative denied that such an offer existed.
The discussions continued as Alves changed counsel to Inés Guardiola, who took over the defense, yet no agreement emerged. The differences between the sides were sizable. Sources indicate there was no contact for two months. The defense proposed a new strategy, seeking an annulment of the trial, which the court rejected, and then a request for release, which was also turned down. From the outset, the defense showed reluctance to accept a ruling that would keep Alves in custody.
In the statement from the complainant’s attorney, there was an emphasis on understanding the legal process and the duty to inform the public about the case, while noting that public presence should not justify sensationalized reporting that adds strain to those affected. He warned that legal action would be pursued if media coverage is biased or inaccurate and aimed at increasing pressure or harm to the complainant.