The alleged act took place on December 31 at a nightclub in Barcelona, police told The Associated Press. Alves was taken into custody after he answered a police summons. He will appear before a judge, who will decide on the charges.
State prosecutors have asked for him to be jailed without bail, the prosecutor’s office said. A charge of sexual assault in Spain can mean anything from unsolicited and unwanted sexual groping to rape. Police said they could not give any details on the case.
The 39-year-old Alves is one of soccer’s most successful players, winning major titles with several elite clubs, including Barcelona, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain, over his long career.
He currently plays with the Mexican club Pumas. The defender was a key part of Barcelona’s golden years playing between 2008-16 on the team’s right flank with Lionel Messi. He won the Champions League three times with the Catalan club, which he briefly rejoined last season.
(AP)