Dani Alves is set to return to football in the way he has always loved it — by playing.
The former Barcelona and Juventus player, after spending 14 months in prison, is ready to begin a new adventure that will also mark a new chapter at the end of his career.
According to reports, the Brazilian is expected to remain active as a player for a period of six months before transitioning into a club management role. Alves is in advanced talks to purchase, together with a group of investors, the team São João de Ver, which is currently ranked 10th in the third tier of Portuguese football.
At 42 years of age, the desire to play football has not faded, despite the difficult period he has gone through. Following accusations of sexual assault that led to his imprisonment, as well as major changes in his personal life — including a new role as a preacher — Dani Alves is aiming for a different ending to his sporting career.
The Brazilian last appeared on the pitch in January 2023. Shortly afterward, he was arrested in Spain on charges of sexual assault, imprisoned, and later released by Spanish authorities in March of this year.
Now, Alves is seeking to open a new chapter in football, initially for a few months as a player and then immediately as a club executive.
