Dani Alves, a defender for Brazil, requested on Thursday that he be released on bond while he awaits a rape trial in Spain.
The 39-year-old 'player' was arrested in Barcelona in January after being charged with raping a minor in a nightclub's restroom in the Spanish city in late December.
The judge looking into him believed there was a chance Alves would attempt to run; therefore, the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-German player has been held in detention without bail.
Asserting that he "can and wants to defend himself and will not avoid the trial," the player's attorneys petitioned the court on Thursday for his interim release.
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His legal team has pressed for his release twice after their initial request was denied in February.
This most recent action comes after Alves, one of the most accomplished footballers, showed up in court in Barcelona on Monday at his request.
He acknowledged having sex with her in a brief statement to the judge but claimed it was consensual, according to legal sources.
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According to people familiar with the case, Alves, who initially denied knowing the woman, eventually changed his narrative many times and claimed they had consensual encounters.
Alves was fired by his Mexican team Pumas UNAM following his arrest.
Alves made 408 appearances for Barcelona throughout a highly successful career, 391 from 2008 to 2016 during his first stint with the team.
He won six La Liga championships, three Champions League medals, and four Copa del Rey trophies during that first time.
He represented Brazil at the World Cup last year as the sport's premier event's oldest player.
