Neymar reportedly aided former Barcelona team-mate Dani Alves in his sexual assault case by sending him €150,000 (£129,000/$164,000) for court fees.
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Dani Alves involved in sexual assault caseFound guilty and sentenced to four yearsNeymar helped to pay courts fineWHAT HAPPENED?
According to Brazilian outlet , the ex-defender turned to his former international and club team-mate due to being stranded in Barcelona. Neymar reportedly transferred €150,000 to the Spanish courts back on August 9 in a payment for "mitigating compensation for damage caused". It is thought that this payment had a serious impact on the length of the sentence imposed; he was handed the minimum sentence allowed on Thursday, of four years. Spanish courts can punish those found guilty of sexual offences to 12 years as a maximum.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesTHE BIGGER PICTURE
The former Brazil international is accused of sexually assaulting a 23-year-old woman in a Barcelona nightclub in December 2021, an act which he claims was consensual. notes that Neymar's intervention was needed as Alves' assets have been frozen following his divorce from ex-wife Dinorah Santana. She is now suing the former right-back for non-payment of alimony.
DID YOU KNOW?
The connection with Neymar wasn't just limited to monetary payments. Around the same time as the transfer, on June 28, reports that Alves appointed Gustavo Xisto, one the oldest representatives of Neymar's father's companies, as his attorney-in-fact. The same day as Xisto's appointment, the report notes, Alves removed Santana from managing his assets.
GettyWHAT NEXT?
Alves is facing up to four years in prison after being found guilty. Neymar, of course, is currently playing football in Saudi Arabia but is injured at the time of writing.