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Who is Dani Alves’ ex-wife Joana Sanz and how long were they married?
Her testimony in court marked an extraordinary turnaround in their relationship
DANI Alves was one of the most decorated players in the history of football until his crimes came to light.
The former footballer was found guilty of raping a woman in a Barcelona nightclub but is now set to be released from prison so he can appeal his conviction.
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Who is Dani Alves' ex wife Joana Sanz?
Joana Sanz and Dani Alves met in 2015 after being introduced by a mutual friend.
She was born in Tenerife on June 9, 1993.
The supermodel has been strutting the catwalk since she was 17 and has since worked with Jimmy Choo, YSL, L'Oriel and many other famous brands.
She has been based in Madrid and the pair met just before Alves moved to Juventus in Italy.
How long were Joana and Dani Alves been married for?
Alves proposed to Joana three times before she finally accepted the engagement.
According to reports, she was not keen on the idea of marriage and was reluctant to accept Alves' engagement ring.
However, the pair married in 2017 in a private ceremony in Ibiza, spending 9 years as husband and wife.
Alves was accused of sexually assaulting a woman in a Barcelona nightclub on December 30, 2022.
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Joana filed for divorce in 2023 after the explosive accusations surfaced.
She claimed Alves complicated things by contesting her attempts to end their marriage.
He bumped into several pieces of furniture and collapsed on the bed
Joana Sanz
Confirmation of their separation came at the end of April 2023 after the footballer changed his version of events, and it is believed the pair are in the midst of divorce proceedings.
Her testimony in court on February 6, 2024, marked an extraordinary turnaround in the relationship between the high-profile pair.
She took the stand for 10 minutes, telling the court she was not legally divorced from the footballer and explaining she was at their Barcelona house on the night in question.
Joana told the court Alves "smelled of alcohol" and "he bumped into several pieces of furniture and collapsed on the bed" after arriving home from the night out.
But she said she didn't want to talk to him because of "the state he was in".
In June 2023, during an interview from his prison cell with Spanish reporter Mayka Navarro, Alves said: "The only person I have to ask for forgiveness is my wife, Joana Sanz.
"I have already done that here in prison, but I have to do it publicly, because the story is public, the offence I caused her is public and she deserves that public apology."
Alves continued: "I entered the nightclub bathroom after her.
"I didn’t even lock the door. The door was open all the time. She could have left at any time because I spent virtually all my time in there sat on the toilet seat."
Do Dani Alves and Joana Sanz share any children?
No, the former couple do not have any children together.
However, Alves has two children from his first marriage with Dinora Santana.
Has Dani Alves been married before?
The former Brazil superstar was previously married to Dinora Santana in 2008.
However, things didn't work out and they got divorced in 2011.
Alves' ex-wife runs the football agency Kick & Run Sports Management, which is based in Germany.
After their divorce, she reportedly helped Alves get a new contract at Barcelona and facilitated his move to Juventus in 2016.
Timeline of Dani Alves' case
December 30, 2022: A woman alleges she was sexually assaulted in the toilets of Sutton nightclub
January 1, 2023: Cops in Barcelona investigate an alleged sexual assault in a nightclub involving Dani Alves
January 5, 2023: Dani Alves' alleged victim makes a formal complaint claiming she was sexually assaulted
CCTV footage shows Alves had been alone for 47 seconds in a toilet at the nightclub with his accuser
January 20, 2023: Alves is remanded in custody by a judge in Barcelona
He initially denies ever meeting his accuser but later confirms they had sex in the nightclub's toilets - but insists it was consensual.
January 31, 2023: His wife Joana Sanz, 29, demands a divorce
February 8, 2023: It emerges that Alves is said to be receiving 'VIP treatment' in prison
March 17, 2023: Alves goes on a hunger strike following split from wife
November 14, 2023: The footballer is ordered to stand trial for the alleged assault
November 24, 2023: Prosecutors demand nine years jail time and to pay the alleged victim £130,000, if found guilty
February 5, 2024: Alves appears in court in Spain facing twelve years in jail
February 6 2024: Joana Sanz testified in court about a "drunk" phone call her husband made to her after the alleged assault
February 7 2024: Alves tells a Spanish court the encounter was consensual
What is Joana Sanz's net worth?
Reports of Joana's net worth vary wildly.
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At the bottom end of the scale, PopularNetWorthBio puts it at around $1million (£789,000).
Whereas at the top end, Idol net worth estimates her fortune to be in the region of a whopping $60million (£47.3million).