Brazil international Dani Alves is arrested and quizzed by Spanish cops

Brazil international Dani Alves has been detained by police in Barcelona and taken to court for questioning after being accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a nightclub in the city.

The footballer admitted that he had been at the city’s iconic Sutton nightclub late last month when the alleged sexual offense occurred.

But she protested her innocence in an interview on Spanish television after a court confirmed it had opened a formal investigation, insisting: “I don’t know who this lady is.” I don’t know her name, I don’t know her, I’ve never seen her in my life.

The former Barcelona defender, now at the Pumas de la UNAM in Mexico, was arrested today with an undisclosed destination and taken to a police station in the Les Corts neighborhood to give a statement.

Brazil international Dani Alves has been detained by police in Barcelona and taken to court for questioning after being accused of sexually assaulting a woman. In the picture: Dani Alves

The footballer admitted that he had been at Barcelona’s iconic Sutton nightclub late last month when the alleged sexual offense occurred.

Local overnight reports said the 39-year-old, who became the oldest Brazilian to play in a FIFA World Cup last month, had arranged his police interview through lawyers.

The reports also said he would be arrested and fingerprinted as part of the routine procedure before being questioned and taken to the court investigating the alleged sexual assault for further evidence.

A spokesman for the regional Mossos D’Esquadra has confirmed: ‘A man accused of indecent assault at a Barcelona nightclub at the end of last year has been arrested.

‘He has now been taken to court after making a statement to the police.

“It will be up to the court now to decide what action to take.”

The sexual abuse charge in Spain can mean anything from unwanted and unsolicited sexual groping to rape. Police said they could not provide details about the case.

A judicial official confirmed it 10 days ago: ‘The Investigating Court number 15 of Barcelona has opened proceedings for an alleged crime of sexual assault as a result of a complaint filed by a woman against a soccer player.

“The incident allegedly occurred at a nightclub in Barcelona in December.”

Dani Alves protested his innocence in an interview with Spanish television after a court confirmed that he had opened a formal investigation.

A highly respected Spanish news website reported earlier this month that Alves had been alone for 47 seconds in a bathroom at the Sutton nightclub (pictured) with the woman who accused him of sexually assaulting her after he left.

A spokesman for the investigating judge confirmed the footballer on Thursday, to whom he has not given his name, and the woman has not yet been questioned in court.

Earlier this week it emerged that Alves had flown to Spain from Mexico with the permission of his club after the death of his wife, the mother of Tenerife-born model Joana Sanz.

Pumas de la UNAM confirmed in a statement: ‘We regret the death of the mother of Joana Sanz, wife of our player Dani Alves.

“We send our sincere condolences.”

A highly respected Spanish news website reported earlier this month that Alves had been alone for 47 seconds in a bathroom at the Sutton nightclub with the woman who accused him of sexually assaulting her after he left.

The former Barcelona defender, now with Mexico’s Pumas de la UNAM, was detained at an undisclosed location and taken to a police station.

He gave a detailed description of the CCTV footage now in the hands of investigators that led the woman to raise the alarm, though he did not post any images.

The 47-second bathroom claim was published by eltaquigrafo.com two days after the first reports of an alleged sexual assault involving Alves appeared in the respected Spanish newspaper ABC.

ABC, the first newspaper to name Alves, claimed that he had allegedly put his hands inside the underwear of a woman who was said to have danced in a VIP area of ​​the nightclub with the footballer and her friends before being followed. to the bathroom.