The trial dates for former Barcelona and Brazil defender Dani Alves, accused of sexual assault, have been scheduled for February 5-7, according to the top court in Catalonia.

Alves is facing charges related to the alleged sexual assault of a woman in a Barcelona nightclub in December of the previous year. Following his arrest on January 20, he has been held in a prison outside Barcelona.

In the event of a conviction, the 40-year-old could potentially face a jail term ranging from four to 15 years. Alves has consistently asserted that the encounter was consensual.

The Spanish prosecutor is pushing for a nine-year prison sentence and has also requested restraining orders against Alves post-incarceration, along with a compensation payment of 150,000 euros ($164,430) to the alleged victim.

Throughout his illustrious career, Alves has been one of the most successful players in football, accumulating over 40 trophies with his national team and clubs such as Barcelona, Sevilla, Juventus, and Paris St Germain.

On January 20, 2023, Dani Alves was apprehended in Spain and has remained in custody since the court rejected his bail plea.

The purported victim informed the police that the former Barcelona star, a Brazilian footballer, had inappropriately touched her beneath her clothing without her consent at a Barcelona nightclub on December 30.

Accompanied by her friends, she reported the incident to the nightclub’s security personnel, who promptly contacted the police.

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Upon arriving at the scene, officers obtained a statement from the woman, who subsequently filed an official complaint for sexual assault on January 2.

In an interview with Antena 3 earlier in the month, Alves asserted that he was at the club with others but vehemently denied engaging in such behavior.