Details of how Brazil superstar Neymar helped ensure that his friend and ex-teammate Dani Alves was not imprisoned for an extended period of time for sexual assault have emerged.

Recall Catalonia’s top court found Alves guilty of sexually assaulting a woman at a Barcelona nightclub in December 2022 and sentenced him to four and a half years in prison while also ordering him to pay 150,000 euros (Ksh23,685,110) to the victim.

In support of his friend and former team-mate at both Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain as well as the Brazil national team, Neymar and his family reportedly paid the 150,000 euros (Ksh23,685,110) to the victim.

According to reports, the prosecution wanted Alves imprisoned for nine years, while the victim requested 12 years, but with Neymar’s assistance, a €150,000 deposit was made, and the sentence was reduced to four and a half years.

Neymar’s family also made Brazilian defender Gustavo Xisto, one of the oldest legal representatives for Neymar’s father’s businesses, available.

Alves, who has maintained his innocence and claimed the sex was consensual, will appeal against the sentence.

One of the world’s most decorated footballers who played for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain during a storied career, Alves went on trial earlier this month on charges of raping a woman at the Sutton nightclub in the early hours of December 31, 2022.

His accuser — who testified behind a screen to protect her identity — said Alves had violently forced her to have sex in a private bathroom of the nightclub despite her begging him to let her go, causing her “anguish and terror”, according to prosecutors.

A friend who was with her broke down in tears as she told the court how the victim was “crying uncontrollably” after leaving the bathroom, saying Alves had “really hurt” her. (Vanguard)

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