The former Barcelona and PSG star was detained in January after being accused of raping a young woman in the bathroom of a nightclub in late December. The court said a date for the trial had not yet been set.

The 40-year-old Brazilian has been held in custody without bail because the court investigating him felt there was a risk he would try to flee.

When the story first broke - and before he was arrested - Alves in a television interview initially denied knowing the woman.  

Alves, who could face up to 12 years in jail if found guilty, defended his innocence in an interview published in June, saying he has a "clear conscience".

"I have a really clear conscience regarding what happened that night in the bathroom of the VIP area of the Sutton nightclub," he told daily newspaper 'La Vanguardia' in his first interview since his arrest.