The 42-year-old Brazilian could join a club in Portugal's Third Division, with the idea of retiring on the field
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Dani Alves could return to professional soccer after more than a year and a half away from the field. The Brazilian, who was detained for 14 months due to a sexual assault case in Barcelona and was acquitted by the High Court of Justice of Catalonia, is one step away from becoming the majority shareholder of Sao Joao de Ver and also signing a contract as a player for the Portuguese club.
According to ESPN Brasil, Alves, 42 years old, has the financial backing of an investment group from his country and his intention would be to play the first half of the next season in order to end his career on the field. This would be a wish that he was not able to fulfill in 2023, when he was playing for Pumas de México and was accused by a 23-year-old woman.
Dani Alves quiere retirarse en cancha
The Brazilian full-back had been sentenced to four and a half years in prison for a sexual assault that took place in a nightclub in the Catalan city. However, the highest court in Catalonia overturned the conviction after it considered that the complainant's testimony showed "insufficient evidence".
In parallel with this possible return to soccer, Alves experienced a turning point in his personal life. In recent months he turned to Evangelical Christianity and became an active religious preacher. He regularly shares reflections and biblical passages on his social media. "You must have faith in God. I made a pact with God", he stated in one of his messages.
A speech that he gave at the Elim Church in Girona also went viral, where he recounted how he went through the most difficult period of his life. "In the midst of turbulence, in the midst of the storm, there is always a messenger of God. And that messenger, at the worst moment of my life, picked me up, took me to the Church, and today I am on the path thanks to them", he said.
Beyond the short term as a player, the Brazilian already is planning his future linked to the bench. Alves's idea is to capitalize on his extensive experience at the elite level in order to start a career as a coach once his playing days are over, a step that he plans to take after he fulfills the personal goal of wearing a team's colors again and saying farewell to soccer on the field.
