Young footballer 'almost beheaded' in brutal 'torture' murder

The football community is in shock over the brutal killing of a young Brazilian player.

Daniel Correa Freitas, 24, was found dead last Sunday in the metropolitan region of Curitiba in Sao Paulo.

His body was found in a thicket in São José dos Pinhais and, according to the Medical Institute of Curitiba, the cause of death was “gunshot wound.”

“The Sao Paulo football club deeply regrets the death of midfielder Daniel Correa Freitas,” his team tweeted.

“The club sympathises and pays condolences to the athlete’s family.”

The official cause of death has not been confirmed, but local newspaper Band B claims Freitas was the victim of “torture”.

“From the appearance of the body, it was a very violent situation,” the paper quoted a municipal officer.

“The man had two deep cuts on his neck, his head was nearly beheaded, and his genitals were severed.

“This road (where the body was found) is a bit deserted and already known for the spawning of corpses.

“Everything indicates the man was executed here on the street and dragged for about 30 metres.”

Before becoming a professional, Daniel player for Botafogo in 2013, where he had a place in the main team and excelled in 2014.

In December of that year, he got to talk to Palmeiras, but failed in medical examinations and ended up hired by São Paulo.

However, the midfielder accumulated injuries and was unable to demonstrate his football in Morumbi.

In all, he played 16 games and did not score.

He was loaned to Coritiba last year and played the last Paulista Championship for Ponte Preta.

He had a contract with São Paulo until December and, in June, was transferred to São Bento, Sorocaba, for the B Series this season.

With Yahoo Sport Eportes