Why Dani Alves Left Barcelona? From Prison Sentence to Finding Faith in God

Former Brazilian footballer Dani Alves has resurfaced in public attention, months after Catalonia’s High Court of Justice overturned the r*pe case against him in March 2025. As reported by Soy Futbol on October 27, 2025, the ex-FC Barcelona star has embarked on a new path as a religious preacher.

According to One Football, Alves recently appeared at the third youth congress of the Elim Church, where he addressed attendees with a message centered on faith and divine promise. Speaking to the audience, he declared:

“In the midst of the storm, a messenger of God appeared. He led me to the Church and the path, and today I am here thanks to them. I asked God to take care of my home and the hearts of the people who wouldn’t abandon me. And I promised to serve Him.”

🚨💥⛪️ | Dani Alves has become a PREACHER in a CHURCH in Girona.

His message to the congregation is: “You have to have faith in God. I am proof of that. I made a pact with God.” 🥺❤️ pic.twitter.com/Szbyfi3AXu

— BeksFCB (@Joshua__Ubeku) October 27, 2025

Alves described himself as living proof that faith and patience yield fulfillment through God’s promises.

Exit from FC Barcelona

Alves, who had been a key player for FC Barcelona, parted ways with the club around three years ago. He publicly confirmed his departure via Instagram before elaborating on the decision in an interview with The Guardian.

Expressing discontent with the handling of his exit, Alves said that while his contract had expired, he felt deceived by a lack of transparency from the club’s management. He remarked:

“This club has sinned in recent years. Barcelona don’t care about the people who made history for the club. As a Cule, I would like Barcelona to do things differently. I’m not talking about myself because my situation was another scenario. I am eternally grateful to Xavi and the president for bringing me back.”

He further commented on internal changes at the club, emphasizing that although the team possesses young talent, improvements must be made off the field as well.

Legal Troubles and Court Proceedings

Born in Juazeiro, Brazil, Alves faced serious legal trouble in 2023 when he was arrested on allegations of s*xual assault. Authorities told the Associated Press that the alleged incident took place in 2022 at a Barcelona nightclub.

Following his arrest, prosecutors requested that Alves remain in custody without bail, citing the severity of the charges. Although Alves acknowledged visiting the club, he denied knowing the alleged victim. His defense later appealed the court’s decision, proposing strict conditions for his release — including remaining in Spain, complying with court summons, keeping distance from the victim, and wearing a tracking device.

Despite multiple bail requests, the court consistently refused release. His trial began in February 2024, resulting in a sentence of four and a half years in prison, followed by five years of probation, as reported by BBC News.

However, a month later, the Spanish court granted his release upon payment of bail. In early 2025, the r*pe conviction was officially overturned, and all associated restrictions were lifted.

Faith and Public Reappearance

Since his acquittal, Alves has embraced Christianity and begun publicly expressing his devotion. In August 2025, he posted an image on Instagram holding a Bible, surrounded by jerseys, with a caption that read in part:

“Heyyy; don’t forget what God did in your lives when everything is going well. Don’t forget where he brought you from and the broken evils in your life.”

The post garnered significant attention, marking a new phase in Alves’ life as a religious advocate.

Over his athletic career, Daniel “Dani” Alves da Silva represented clubs such as Bahia and Sevilla and competed in numerous international football tournaments, including FIFA competitions. Today, his focus appears to have shifted from the pitch to the pulpit.

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