Nightclub where Daniel Alves allegedly raped young woman sells vodka for up to R$ 10,700

The Barcelona nightclub where Daniel Alvez allegedly sexually assaulted a young woman in late December is famous for its luxurious atmosphere and sophisticated clientele. Admission is free until 1am, upon prior inclusion of the name on the guest list, and after that time it costs around 20 euros (R$ 112). There are also options for VIP tables, with a minimum price of 250 euros (R$ 1,400).

To be allowed on site, however, you must comply with the dress code, which demands an elegant style. Men must wear a shirt or polo shirt combined with pants (without rips) and shoes, while women must wear a dress or skirt and blouse, shoes or boots (generally high heels, but there is no prohibition on flat shoes).

Alcoholic drinks have prices ranging from 20 euros (R$ 112) for a glass of drink to 1,900 euros (R$ 10,700) for a 6-liter bottle of vodka.

Although the club is known for hosting celebrities such as Nicolas Cage, Shakira, Ronaldinho and Rafa Nadal on the TripAdvisor travel site, the Sutton Barcelona nightclub has a 2.5 star rating, with most of its reviews being negative. Of the 395 responses about the location left on the portal so far, 175 define it as “terrible”, while 89 mark it “excellent”; 70, “very good”; 36, “regular”; and 25, “bad”.

“We went there and Europeans were allowed in but LATINOS weren’t? What’s wrong with you! IT’S 2022!!”, reads one customer review, posted in October 2022, the most recent on the site.

Daniel Alves’ sexual assault case in Spain

The family members of the Brazilian, who denies having committed any crime, are now trying to restructure their defense to file the appeal as requested by the Public Ministry of Spain to reverse the preventive detention determined last Friday, the 20th, for sexual assault. The Spanish penal code configures this crime as rape.

A source close to the case believes that the judge’s decision was influenced by the contradictions in the player’s testimonies and the possible risk of fleeing due to his high financial condition, and, for being living outside the country.

According to the newspaper “El Periodico”, from Barcelona, ​​the player changed his version of the case in testimony to the Court of Justice, which did not go well with the jury of the case. Days before, he had claimed not to know the victim to the police and in an interview to a Spanish program. In the deposition, however, he would have stated that there was a relationship, but he claims that it was consensual. According to Spanish radio “Cadena Ser”, the player’s defense requests a new statement.

At the same time, the jury saw in the alleged victim a statement without contradictions, consistent with what she had described to the police on January 2nd. “The arrest warrant gives full credibility to the woman, whose statement was “strong” and “persistent”, without contradictions. In court, she explained the same thing that she had detailed on January 2, three days after the events, when she filed the complaint, “explains the newspaper” El País “.

evidence

In addition to the statements, the young woman also underwent medical examinations at Hospital Clínic after leaving the nightclub. The medical reports and the dress were given to the investigators. According to the Spanish press, the presence of semen was detected on her dress.

The cameras at the Sutton nightclub are an important element for authorities investigating the case. In addition to showing the alleged victim in a fragile situation after returning from the nightclub’s bathroom, the internal circuit would have recorded, according to “El Periodico”, that the 23-year-old woman would have stayed for about 15 minutes in the bathroom.

The most recent evidence of the case was revealed by the newspaper “El Mundo” this Monday. According to the diary, the description of an intimate tattoo of the player by the victim would have been an important element in determining his arrest. The mention of the tattoo clashed with the player’s initial version that he would have remained dressed in the episode, says the newspaper.

Hours after the arrest decree, Pumas, the Mexican club for which he played, announced the termination of his contract, which was valid until June 2023.

Player transferred to prison with smaller cells

The right-back was transferred to a prison with smaller cells near Barcelona this Monday, the 23rd, to “guarantee security and common coexistence”, informed Spanish police sources.

Shortly after a judge ordered his preventive detention without bail, the former Pumas player was taken to Brians 1 prison, about 40 kilometers from the capital, where he spent the weekend.

However, this Monday, the Catalan authorities announced the transfer of Alves to the Brians 2 complex, a unit with smaller cells, in which it will be possible to have better control over the internal organization, also guaranteeing the safety and coexistence of the detainees.

Although there are more inmates at this centre, the cells are smaller and have an average occupancy of around 80 inmates, versus around 200 per module at Brians 1.

According to the same sources, the format would be more appropriate in the case with a media personality like the former Barcelona player, rejecting that the decision was motivated by any eventuality at the weekend.

After being evaluated by professionals at the new center, the athlete already has an assigned cell and will initially spend the first few days accompanied by another detainee.