Former Barcelona star Dani Alves is spotted on a football pitch for the first time after Brazilian was released on bail following rape conviction

Former Barcelona defender Dani Alves has been spotted on a football pitch for the first time since his release from prison. 

The shamed footballer, who has appealed a four-and-a-half year jail sentence after being found guilty of rape, was released from prison in March. 

The 41-year-old paid a €1million (£850,000) bail bond to be released, with reports stating it was funded by a Brazilian magazine in exchange for an interview.

Alves, who last played club football in 2023, stepped back on the pitch as he joined a casual match on an artificial pitch in Barcelona. 

He reportedly used an app that allows local players to organise informal matches even if they don't know each other. 

The Brazilian sported a Boca Juniors shirt despite not playing for the Argentine club during his illustrious career. 

According to Marca, Alves initially went unnoticed but his presence was then noticed, with fans requesting photos after the game. 

Alves is on provisional release and will usually attend court hearings on Friday.

The former Brazil international was released from Brians 2 prison in March after 15 months spent behind bars awaiting his trial for raping a woman in December 2022.

He was found guilty in February of this year and sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison, but Alves is in the process of appealing the verdict, and will be doing so from his own home after agreeing to a number of conditions handed out by the court.

Alves has surrendered both his Spanish and Brazilian passports, and will have mandatory once-a-week visits to the court to maintain his freedom, after first paying a €1million (£850,000) bail bond.

But after doing so, he has been keen to make the most of life outside the prison walls, and unsurprisingly football remains a source of joy.