Dani Alves is facing a financial hurdle as he tries to raise the one million euros the Barcelona court ordered him to post in bail to stay free from Brians 2 prison. He has remained in preventive detention since January 20, 2023, when he was arrested in connection with the assault case at Sutton nightclub. This Friday he did not lodge the bail with the court secretary of Section 21, which initially sentenced him to four and a half years. He will have another chance to transfer the money on Monday, because the court office is closed on Saturday and Sunday, and there is no immediate way to confirm that the player’s lawyers have completed the payment.
The Neymar family refusal to help their compatriot again has complicated Alves’s immediate release. Previously, Neymar Jr.’s father, Neymar da Silva Santos, provided 150,000 euros during Alves’s processing to cover potential compensation to the victim, a gesture that helped reduce the sentence. In a firm statement, Neymar Sr. asserted that there is no longer any connection between him or his son and the case, and he insisted that Alves should bear responsibility himself. He added that the matter is over for his family and urged Daniel to find the answers he seeks within his own relatives. Judicial sources suggest this public disassociation stems from reputational damage the Neymar camp suffered after the earlier assistance to Alves became public knowledge.
Lula da Silva, the president of Brazil, has also weighed in, criticizing the decision to grant Alves bail. He stated that money, whether Alves’s own or borrowed, cannot atone for the offense against a woman. His remarks have stirred tensions around Alves’s camp and have contributed to the difficulties in raising funds, especially since Alves’s bank accounts in Brazil are blocked. Some reports indicate Alves and his associates may still have business interests in Brazil, though international transfers to Spain are not instantaneous.
In addition, Alves owns a house in Esplugues de Llobregat that carries a mortgage, meaning its value may fall short of the one‑million‑euro bail demand. Another possibility under discussion is negotiating with banks to secure a loan backed by anticipated tax refunds from the Spanish tax agency, which could amount to several million euros. However, processing such an option is not straightforward. Banks are showing reluctance, reportedly due to reputational concerns, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
The case highlights the heavy financial and reputational pressures surrounding a high‑profile footballer facing serious charges, with a few paths left to achieve release while the courts determine the next steps. The situation remains fluid, as legal and financial maneuvers continue to unfold under intense public scrutiny, with friends, family, and business associates all weighing their contributions and risks in an effort to resolve the bail matter and the broader legal consequences.
(Citations: statements from family representatives and judicial sources in Brazilian and Spanish outlets; public remarks by Lula da Silva; ongoing financial disclosures and the status of international transfers.)