Dani Alves’ ex-wife appeared unbothered shortly after the former Barcelona full-back was sentenced to four years and six months in jail. 

On Thursday, the former Brazil international was found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in the bathroom of an upscale Barcelona nightclub on December 31, 2022.

The 40-year-old father-of-two had been held on remand at Brians 2 Prison near the Catalan capital since his arrest in January last year and now faces his first night behind bars as a convicted sex offender.

Shortly after the news, his former wife Joana Sanz took to her Instagram page to share a picture of herself before also posting a picture that appeared to show she was out for coffee.

Speaking to La Vanguardia from prison last summer, Alves apologised to his former partner. ‘The only person I have to apologise to is my wife, Joana Sanz,’ he said.

‘The woman I married eight years ago, to whom I am still married, and with whom I hope to continue living all my life.

‘I have already apologised to her personally here in prison, but I must do it publicly because the story is public, the offence is public and she deserves a public apology.

‘These have been, are being, and will be very hard days for her. I thank her for everything she is doing for me. Her role is not easy. I love her and during this time in prison, I have thought a lot about our marriage.

‘I am certain that I was not wrong to choose Joana as my wife. Although perhaps she did make a mistake with me.’

His wife appeared to confirm she had split from Alves in a social media post. 

In a handwritten letter, she said ‘It will take years to erase from my memory his way of looking at me’ and ‘here is a strong woman moving on to the next stage of her life.’