Former Brazilian footballer Dani Alves appeared in court today, accompanied by his wife Joana San, as the second day of his rape trial took place. The 40-year-old is facing charges of sexually assaulting a woman in a bathroom of an upscale Barcelona nightclub on December 31, 2022. Alves vehemently denies any wrongdoing.

During the court proceedings, Alves' wife, Joana San, appeared as a witness and gave her testimony. She stated that Alves arrived at their home outside Barcelona in the early morning, "smelling of alcohol." It was also revealed that San has not legally requested a divorce, despite her initial desire to do so when the scandal emerged.

The trial also heard from a friend who accompanied Alves on the night of the alleged incident. According to the friend, Alves and the alleged victim had danced together and displayed "chemistry" before entering the bathroom. The friend testified that the woman later emerged distraught, claiming Alves had slapped her, used insulting language, and sexually assaulted her without her consent.

The alleged victim, whose identity is being protected, had previously testified on the first day of the trial. State prosecutors have requested a nine-year prison sentence if Alves is found guilty, while the accuser's lawyers are seeking a 12-year sentence.

Testimonies from the woman's friend and cousin supported her claims, stating that she appeared distressed upon exiting the bathroom and informed them that Alves had "hurt her badly" by forcing her into non-consensual intercourse.

Concerns over the victim's identity surfaced after a video circulating on social media allegedly identified her, prompting state prosecutors to request additional measures to protect her anonymity.

Police officers who encountered the alleged victim after the incident testified that she was traumatized and conveyed that she had been sexually assaulted by Alves. They further revealed that she had to overcome her fears of not being believed before officially reporting the assault. One officer recalled the victim's statement, saying, "I don't want money, I want justice."

The manager of the nightclub, following the activation of the establishment's sexual assault protocol, recounted that the woman had initially entered the bathroom with Alves voluntarily but later expressed a desire to leave, claiming he had prevented her from doing so.

Alves, who has been in pre-trial detention since his arrest on January 20, 2023, will testify in court on Wednesday. If found guilty, he has been ordered to set aside €150,000 ($162,000) for potential damages to his accuser.

The former Barcelona, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain defender has had a successful football career, winning major titles and representing Brazil in international competitions. However, his contract with Mexican soccer club Pumas was terminated immediately following his arrest.

The trial is set to continue, with the expectations of the court hearing further testimonies before reaching a verdict.