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THE brother of Brazilian former footballer Dani Alves has blasted an internet prankster for falsely claiming the disgraced star had taken his own life in prison.
The ex-Barcelona star’s press adviser, Acaz Felleger, said they were considering legal action against Rio de Janeiro-based Paulo Albuquerque over his viral social media post.
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AFP
InstagramAlbuquerque, who describes himself on X (formerly Twitter) as a lover of football, beer and a beautiful woman, wrote last night: “The information I’m receiving is that Daniel Alves has killed himself.”
He added in a second post eight hours later, after his initial message had gone viral on social media: “People, for the love of God, what sort of repercussion is this?
“I was referring to my cousin Danielzinho from the city of Nova Iguacu who had disappeared, but has now been found alive.”
Alves’ brother, Ney, who travelled to Barcelona last month to see the footballer tried for rape ahead of his conviction and four-and-a-half year jail sentence, took to Instagram Live to issue a furious response.
“How cruel human beings can be!” he said. “He’s already been convicted on the word of a woman who entered a men’s toilet to do what only he and her know.
“He’s already been convicted. Is that not enough?
“Now the madness is people want him dead. They want to see my brother dead. How cruel is that!
“My dad is more than 70 years old and my mum is more than 60.
“Do people like this not have family?”
The former players’ family still believe he is innocent despite three judges finding him guilty of forcing himself on a 23-year-old woman in a toilet at upmarket Barcelona nightclub Sutton in the early hours of December 30 2022.
Journalist Mr Felleger, who represents Alves, also denied the fake claims his client had committed suicide.
Speaking to a Brazilian radio station, Felleger said legal action was being considered against the person who sparked the viral rumour.
“The information was posted on X without any basis whatsoever,” he said.
“I spoke with Dani’s lawyer and this irresponsible person should be sued.”
Alves’ model wife Joana Sanz has yet to comment.
The 31-year-old Tenerife-born beauty treated her 950,000 Instagram followers overnight to a photo of her training in the gym.
Last year, she admitted she was seeking a divorce from the former footballer, which has subsequently been put on hold.
Father-of-two Alves, 40, was handed his prison sentence on February 22 after being driven to the Barcelona court where he was tried over three days at the start of last month.
He had been held in Brians 2 Prison near the Catalan capital for more than a year on remand before his trial.
Alves protested his innocence on February 7 after taking the stand on the last day of his three-day trial at Barcelona’s Audiencia Provincial court.
He claimed he had consensual sex with his 23-year-old female accuser and had not made her do anything.
The woman he was found guilty of raping insisted the footballer had forced himself on her after hitting her when she gave her evidence in court behind a screen.
State prosecutors confirmed at his trial they wanted him jailed for nine years on conviction and a lawyer acting for his victim demanded a 12-year sentence.
They are also set to appeal in the hope higher court judges will hand Alves a stiffer punishment.
Alves’ lawyer has already confirmed she will appeal his rape conviction and sentence.
Last month, Alves’ ex-wife Joana Sanz accidentally shared a bizarre letter the disgraced rapist wrote to her from prison.
He pleaded for forgiveness and thanked the model for being a strong woman as she went through “such a difficult time”, Vogue reports.
It came after Alves’ statue in his hometown was wrapped in duct tape and bin bags following his rape conviction.
The statue is located in the central region of Juazeiro in Brazil and displays a life-size Alves wearing the national team shirt and a football at his feet.
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