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Former Barcelona defender Dani Alves is set to be released from prison after posting his €1m (£850,000) bail bond.
Alves was found guilty of rape and sentenced to four years and six months in prison last month but he has now opened the door to being released from jail while he appeals his conviction after posting his €1m bail bond. Per the Daily Mail, he has also handed in his Spanish and Brazilian passports, so as not to be deemed a flight risk. He has not been out of prison for 14 months but that day may now come.
Alves was informed that he could leave prison last week but was unable to pay the bail bond; he has now done so, with his lawyer subsequently claiming that he had been left penniless. However, he is set to receive a payout from Spain’s tax agency – Alves is owed €9.2m (£7.9m/$10m) – which may explain why the bail can now be paid. There had been reports that Neymar’s family would be involved in helping Alves pay, but they have since released a statement claiming that is not the case.
Alves’ ex-wife Dinorah Santana has distanced herself almost completely from the former Brazil star, telling Spanish television: “For me, he doesn’t exist. For me, he has died.”
Alves will have to pay his bail bond and will then be released from prison. It remains to be seen if his appeal is successful.
