The Sun: Soccer star found dead, "almost beheaded with his genitals severed"

A soccer star was found dead in a bush “almost beheaded and with his genitals severed,” according to reports.

Sao Paulo star Daniel Correa Freitas, 24, was discovered in Sao Jose dos Pinhais, a city in Brazil’s southern state of Parana, on Saturday night.

A tweet from his Serie A club — the top division in Brazil — posted in the early hours of Sunday morning confirmed the worst. It read: “The Sao Paulo football club deeply regrets the death of midfielder Daniel Correa Freitas. The club sympathizes and pays condolences to the athlete’s family.”

The official cause of death has not been confirmed. But a detailed report in local newspaper Band B claimed Freitas was the victim of “torture.”

Quoting a municipal guard, the report stated: “From the appearance of the body, it was a very violent situation. The man had two deep cuts on his neck, his head was nearly beheaded, and his genitals were severed.”

It was claimed that people walking through the area discovered the body.

The report went on to say: “This road [where the body was found] is a bit deserted and already known for the dumping of corpses. Everything indicates the man was executed here on the street and dragged for about 100 feet.”

Known as Daniel, the attacking midfielder started his career with Botafogo before moving to Sao Paulo in 2015.

Sao Paulo is one of the biggest and most popular soccer teams in Brazil.

Daniel spent the last two years away from the club on loan, first with second-division side Coritiba, before moving to Ponte Preta and then fellow second-tier side Sao Bento — the club he was playing for at the time of his death.

Botafogo was among the clubs to offer their condolences.

A tweet read: “Note of regret: Botafogo regrets the demise of former player Daniel Correa Freitas and expresses solidarity with friends and family.” (Via The Sun)