Dana Dinorah, Dani Alves’ ex-wife and mother of his children, has admitted that the situation is difficult for everyone around the former Barcelona defender.
The arrest of Alves on allegations of rape has caused an earthquake at many levels, from soccer to politics.
It has also elicited a wide range of reactions from his family.
Recall that Alves was detained in Barcelona on Friday after it was claimed he had assaulted a woman in a nightclub bathroom.
In an earlier January interview with Spanish broadcaster Antena 3, the 39-year-old denied committing the crime.
The Brazilian, who has also played for Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain, gave a statement to the Mossos d’Esquadra police force on Friday before the public prosecutor’s office requested that he should be detained and not granted bail.
Speaking on the development, Dinorah defended her former husband, insisting that the player’s family is overwhelmed because they cannot access him.
“I have not had access to him. I know he’s sad, but he’s fine, and I’ll do whatever it takes to help him,” Dinorah told Telecinco. “It’s a shock, and for my children, who are teenagers and are having a very hard time.
“His family is overwhelmed because they want to see him and they can’t access him. His lawyer tells me she is working on the case.”
She added, “Dani would never, ever, ever do this. I’m telling you because I’ve known him for 22 years and I have been married to him for 10. I think it’s a nightmare and it can’t be happening.”