Ex-Barcelona star Dani Alves to stand trial on sexual assault charges

The 40-year-old is accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a nightclub in Barcelona last December. He was arrested in January and held in a prison. A court in Barcelona has decided that there is sufficient grounds to take the case to court.

The former full-back, who insists he had consensual sex with his accuser, faces between four and 15 years in prison if found guilty of the charges.

A document released by the court and signed by three judges read: "The statements of the alleged victim and the witnesses statements and experts' reports that appear in the case must be considered as sufficient for this purpose, without prejudice to the final outcome following the plenary phase."

No date has been set for the former Barcelona, Sevilla and Paris Saint-Germain defender's trial.