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The initial feeling should be one of compassion towards the victim, a woman who was sexually assaulted by Dani Alves in a nightclub restroom in Barcelona on the early morning of December 31, 2022. The specifics of the incident, and the verdict delivered in cold legal language, are distressing: “The victim was subjected to violence in order to compel her to engage in sexual activity.”
The victim went through a horrifying experience, with a terrible attack and challenges she must have faced in the months since. These struggles will likely continue for her. However, due to Alves’s fame, there is a strange sense of knowing celebrities, leading to shock and feeling of being let down.
How can we relive the spectacular moments of Barcelona’s greatness with the same sense of awe now? How can we watch his impressive low free-kick against Atlético in the 2009-10 season, the unbelievable half-volley against Getafe in 2010-11, and the perfectly angled first-time strike against Real Madrid in 2011-12, without remembering the player he evolved into?
The emotion will endure far beyond the duration of his four and a half year sentence. Alves, whose attorney plans to challenge the ruling, played a crucial role in Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona team, known for his technical skill, explosiveness, and unconventional style. It’s no surprise that Lionel Messi hailed him as the best full-back in the world.
We are always unfamiliar with them. We witness football players in action, observe their behavior, interpret their words, and envision them as we would like them to be.
Soccer is like a dramatic television show where we make up our own characters, including fierce antagonists, brave heroes, and determined ball handlers. There is little room for complexity: players and coaches are portrayed as either good or bad, without much depth. This unexpected situation may be surprising because, to those who are not heavily involved in soccer, such as most of us who simply watch it as fans, Dani Alves appeared to be one of the protagonists.
It is widely acknowledged that he was an exceptional football player. According to the legend, his father made the decision to switch him from a winger to a right-back at the age of six because he was not scoring enough goals. Despite playing in a defensive position, he maintained the attacking style of a winger. There were doubts about his defensive skills, but when he joined Barcelona, a team known for dominating possession like no other, it became less of a concern. He may not have been the perfect right-back, but his style was a perfect fit for the team. His runs down the wing provided cover for Messi to make runs towards the goal, while his deep runs were crucial in breaking through tightly packed defenses.
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He achieved an impressive number of 43 awards throughout his career, including league championships in Spain, Italy, and France, three Champions Leagues, two Europa Leagues, regional titles in Brazil, and two Copas América. Depending on how you count them, this could make him the most accomplished player of all time or second only to Messi.
It wasn’t just his skill that set him apart. He exuded a sense of playfulness and adventure in his game. Every time he stepped off the Brazil team bus, he had a drum or tambourine in hand. In interviews, two things were consistently noticeable: his infectious energy and his jovial laughter. He even referred to himself as “good crazy”. Sports journalist Sid Lowe fittingly compared him to “a football version of Sonic the Hedgehog.”
Alves showcased excitement and style on the field, displaying a strong competitive drive and garnering popularity. However, during his second stint at Barcelona, there were whispers that he may not have been the most positive influence on team morale. Despite this, we still held onto the idea of him as a carefree and talented Brazilian full-back, following in the footsteps of legendary players such as Nílton Santos, Júnior, Cafú, and Roberto Carlos. He was lucky to play in an era where full-backs were expected to contribute offensively as much as they defended.
We had hoped to believe that, but it is disheartening to discover that although there may have been some validity to that depiction, there was also a darker side to Alves. According to the verdict, he forcefully grabbed and threw the victim to the ground before sexually assaulting her.
“Demonstrate your playing style, and I can determine your true character,” remarked Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano. This statement holds truth as certain traits are evident on the field. Are you willing to take risks for the team? How do you handle challenges? Are you a team player or focused on personal gain? Do you break rules for personal benefit? However, football only reveals a portion of one’s character as there are complexities and unpleasant realities outside of the sport.
We have no true understanding of players.
Source: theguardian.com
