Dinora Santana, the former wife of football star Dani Alves, publicly expressed belief in her ex-husband’s innocence on Thursday morning following his arrest on allegations of sexual assault at a Barcelona nightclub. Speaking to reporters after Alves arrived at Barcelona–El Prat Airport from Terminal 1 around 9:13 am, Santana stood by her statements alongside a 16-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl who accompanied Alves on the trip. The remarks came as Santana described the visit as a family matter tied to their children’s schooling and daily routines rather than a personal visit to the footballer’s residence.
Santana explained that the party’s purpose in Barcelona was to locate a suitable school for their children. She noted plans to travel back to Brazil by September and return to Barcelona when the school year resumes. She emphasized that she did not stay at Alves’ home during this visit, clarifying, “I have my own house in Barcelona.”
two petitions for freedom
Alves has been held in temporary detention since January 20 on accusations of sexually assaulting a young woman on December 30, 2022. His defense team, led by attorney Cristóbal Martell, has twice filed petitions asking for the actor’s release.
Martell presented to the Barcelona Court of Investigation, in this case the 15th Investigating Court, a request to grant bail to the footballer and to impose conditions, including the withdrawal of his Spanish and Brazilian passports to ensure he would not flee if released.
In both submissions, the Barcelona Provincial Prosecutor’s Office rejected the requests, citing concerns about the risk of flight. The ongoing judicial process remains under scrutiny as the parties await further rulings and potential trial dates.
Observers note that the case has continued to attract widespread media attention across Spain and among international audiences, reflecting broader discussions about legal processes in high-profile cases and how custody, travel, and public statements intersect with ongoing investigations. (Source attribution: local press briefings and court filings reported by multiple outlets.)