Dani Alves has hired the services of highly reputed lawyer Cristobal Martell, known for collaborating with illustrious clients such as Lionel Messi or businessman Jordi Pujol Ferrusola.

The Brazilian right-back was arrested last week after being accused of allegedly sexually abusing a woman at a Barcelona nightclub on December 30.

Who is Cristobal Martell?

Martell was born in Caracas to a diplomat father and grew up in the Canary Islands until he left to study law in Barcelona.

He is a lawyer famous for his ability to reach out-of-court settlements, having handled the cases of more than one celebrity.

In addition to Messi and Pujol Ferrusola, he was also the attorney of former Partido Popular treasurer Alvaro Lapuerta and former Barcelona president Josep Lluis Nunez.

Other clients

He is also known by Barcelona fans for having been the lawyer who reached an agreement with Justice after the club was convicted of a tax offense in the signing of Neymar, while former presidents Sandro Rosell and Josep Maria Bartomeu were declared not guilty.

Alves' new lawyer will be in charge of this case along with the player's current attorney, Miraida Puente Wilson, who assisted him in his statement last Friday. They are already in charge of presenting the appeal against Alves' temporary custody.