Another twist in Dani Alves saga as ex-Barcelona defender fails to post €1m bond and will spend weekend in jail amid appeal over rape conviction

The former Barcelona full-back was found guilty of sexual assault and sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison, before a Spanish court ruled the 40-year-old would be conditionally released after serving more than a year of his sentence. The ex-defender was granted bail on Wednesday but according to ESPN, after he failed to come up with the money (£858,055/$1.08m), he will remain behind bars for the time being.

The report adds that Neymar's father said neither he nor his son would help with Alves' bail. Neymar Sr confirmed he has helped the ex-Paris Saint-Germain man with money since his arrest but said that was before his sexual assault at a Barcelona nightclub in December 2022 was confirmed. Alves reportedly hopes to have the money ready by Monday or Tuesday.

ESPN state for Alves to be released, he has to hand over his Brazilian and Spanish passports, on top of posting bail, and he cannot leave Spain. Incidentally, the Barcelona resident cannot go within 1,000 metres of the victim, nor try to communicate with her, and he must make weekly check-ins at the courthouse.

The victim's lawyer, Ester Garcia, called the decision to grant Alves bail as a "scandalous" decision, saying it was "justice for the rich" - while confirming she will appeal the result. Alves will now await the result of an appeal to his rape conviction.