Model Joana Sanz posted a photo holding hands with Dani Alves after the Brazilian defender deposited $1.1 million for bail to await trial abroad.
Following his release on March 25th, Alves returned to his private villa in the Esplugues de Llobregat district of Barcelona, where Sanz is also residing. According to the Spanish program Fiesta, the two met in person to decide the future of their marital relationship.
On April 1st, Sanz shared a photo on Instagram showing them affectionately holding hands, with both of their hands bearing a shared tattoo reading “1+1=1” to symbolize their love. Marca reported uncertainty whether this inscription was a genuine tattoo or written with red ink.
Sanz’s action contradicted a report from Europa Press just hours earlier, which claimed she had left the villa and that the couple was experiencing a crisis, struggling to mend their relationship.
Alves and Sanz have been dating since 2015 and tied the knot in Ibiza, Spain, on July 8th, 2017. Following the arrest of the 40-year-old defender, Sanz filed for divorce, citing infidelity rather than the allegations of sexual assault. However, she stated during Alves’ trial that the divorce was not yet “official.”
On February 22nd, the Barcelona court ordered Alves to pay €150,000 (over $162,000 USD) in compensation to the victim as well as cover legal expenses. The former Barcelona and PSG defender was also placed under legal supervision for an additional 5 years and received a restraining order prohibiting contact with the victim for 9 years and 6 months.
Before his conviction, Alves penned a heartfelt letter to Sanz from his jail cell, expressing remorse and gratitude for her strength during a difficult time, as she was dealing with her mother’s uterine cancer diagnosis while Alves was incarcerated.
Upon depositing $1.1 million for bail on March 25th, Alves was placed under house arrest pending the final verdict on the sexual assault charges. In addition to the bail amount, the former Barcelona defender surrendered his passport, must report to police weekly, and is prohibited from contacting or traveling within a 1 km radius of the accuser.
Due to his financial constraints, Alves was unable to post bail on his own. According to Spanish journalist Marisa Martin Blazquez, a prominent Brazilian magazine agreed to provide bail in exchange for an interview with Alves. Blazquez stated that the agreement includes specific terms, such as conducting the interview as a documentary and Sanz’s participation.