Dani Alves: I was happier in prison than when I was making millions as a player

Former Brazilian footballer Dani Alves said he was happier while in prison than when he was earning millions of euros as a professional player, stressing that his faith in God helped him find inner peace.

Alves, who played for Barcelona, ​​Sevilla and the Brazilian national team during his career, gave a speech in which he spoke about his experience in detention and the importance of faith.

"I was earning millions of euros, thank God and football, but I didn't realize it at the time. In prison, where I was earning 113 euros, I was happier than when I was earning millions," Alves said, as reported by Spanish outlet Marca.

He added that his faith was his greatest support during that period.

"I used to play football, and then I cleaned the rooms in prison, but I had my Father by my side," Alves said, alluding to God.

"I asked myself: What are millions of euros worth if you don't have a Father?" he added.

The video of his speech soon went viral on social media and provoked numerous public reactions.

Alves was previously accused of sexual assault, but the High Court of Catalonia acquitted him of the charges and overturned a previous sentence that had sentenced him to four and a half years in prison. He had previously spent more than a year in custody, after which he was released to defend himself.