Dani Alves buys and plays for his own club

According to ESPN Brasil, Dani Alves is in the final stages of acquiring Sporting Clube de São João de Ver, a club currently competing in Liga 3, the third tier of Portuguese football. The team is based in the Aveiro region and is currently positioned mid-table in the league standings. Alves is not acting alone in this deal, as he reportedly has financial backing from a group of Brazilian investors who are supporting the takeover.

What has drawn significant attention is Alves’s desire to not only take on an ownership role, but also to become an active player for the club. Despite being 42 years old and having been away from professional football for more than two years, the former right-back is seriously considering signing a short-term playing contract lasting six months. Sources close to the situation indicate that Alves wants to help guide and inspire younger players while bringing his playing career to a meaningful and positive conclusion.

Alves believes that with one month of intensive personal training, he can regain the physical condition needed to compete at the Liga 3 level. His motivation is not driven by financial gain, but rather by a desire to remain connected to football on the field and to share his experience with a developing squad.

This potential return follows a challenging period in Alves’s personal and professional life. In January 2023, he was arrested in Barcelona after being accused of sexual assault at a nightclub. Alves spent more than one year in prison and was later sentenced to four years and six months. However, in March 2025, a Spanish high court overturned the conviction, citing inconsistencies and insufficient reliability in the original evidence. Following the court decision, Alves was released and legally cleared of the charges.

Since then, Alves has focused on rebuilding his public image and personal life. He has frequently spoken about his religious faith and described his experience as a test of belief and resilience. Those close to him say that returning to football represents an important step in moving forward.

Before these legal issues, Dani Alves had already secured his place as one of the greatest defenders in football history. Widely regarded as the best right-back of his generation, he enjoyed immense success at club level. During his time with Barcelona, Alves won three UEFA Champions League titles and six La Liga championships. He also claimed domestic league titles with Juventus in Italy and Paris Saint-Germain in France.

On the international stage, Alves was equally successful. He captained Brazil to two Copa América titles and played a key role in the team that won the Olympic gold medal. Over the course of his career, Alves collected more than 40 major trophies, making him one of the most decorated footballers of all time.