Former Barcelona defender Dani Alves has been spotted on a football pitch for the first time since his release from prison.
The shamed footballer, who appealed a four-and-a-half-year jail sentence after being found guilty of rape, was released from prison in March.
The 41-year-old posted bail of €1m (£850,000) to be released, reportedly funded by a Brazilian magazine in exchange for an interview.
Alves, who last played at club level in 2023, returned to the pitch to join an informal match on an artificial pitch in Barcelona.
He reportedly used an app that allows local players to organize informal matches even if they don’t know each other.
Dani Alves has been seen on a football pitch for the first time since his release from prison
Alves posted bail of one million euros (£850,000) to be released after being found guilty of rape.
The Brazilian wore the Boca Juniors jersey despite not playing for the Argentine club during his illustrious career.
According BrandAlves initially went unnoticed but then his presence became noticeable and fans asked for photos after the match.
Alves is on bail and will normally attend court hearings on Friday.
The former Brazil international was released from Brians 2 prison in March after spending 15 months behind bars awaiting his trial for raping a woman in December 2022.
He was found guilty in February this year and sentenced to four and a half years in prison, but Alves is in the process of appealing the verdict and will do so from his own home after accepting a series of conditions imposed by the court.
The Brazilian reportedly used an app that allows local players to organize informal matches.
Alves has surrendered his Spanish and Brazilian passports and will have mandatory court visits once a week to maintain his freedom, after first posting bail of one million euros (£850,000).
But after doing so, he has wanted to make the most of life outside the prison walls and, unsurprisingly, football remains a source of joy for him.
