Bruno Fernandes de Souza, the star goalkeeper of Flamengo, Brazil's most popular football team, has surrendered to police in Rio de Janeiro after being accused of the kidnap and murder of his ex-girlfriend.
Eliza Samudio, who had claimed de Souza was the father of her four-month-old baby, was last seen with the footballer driving to his countryside residence in the neighbouring state of Minas Gerais in June.
A warrant for the arrest of de Souza and his friend Luiz Henrique Romao was issued after de Souza's 17-year-old cousin confessed to being an accomplice in the abduction. However, the Minas Gerais police chief, Edson Moreira, says the teenager's testimony is questionable.
De Souza, who has been suspended by Flamengo while he is investigated, has repeatedly denied having anything to do with the disappearance of Samudio. On Monday he said in a radio interview he had a clear conscience: "In the future I'll be able to laugh at all this."
However, de Souza's wife, Dayana Rodrigues has also been arrested for obstructing the investigation, according to police. According to AFP, when they took her in, Rodrigues was found with Samudio's baby.
Eliza Samudio has been missing for nearly a month. The missing former lover of a top Brazilian football star was strangled and then fed to dogs, police say.
Eliza Samudio, 25, was a former girlfriend of Bruno Fernandes, goalkeeper for Flamengo, Brazil's most popular club.
He handed himself into police after a warrant was issued for his arrest over her disappearance nearly a month ago.
Mr Fernandes, 25, has denied any wrongdoing, and said he has a "clear conscience".
But police say a teenage cousin of Mr Fernandes has given evidence that the goalkeeper was involved in her kidnap and suspected murder.
Ms Samudio had said that the married footballer was the father of her baby.
Police say Ms Samudio was taken by force from a hotel in Rio de Janeiro on the day of her disappearance and was strangled in the city of Belo Horizonte.
They say her body was cut up and parts were fed to dogs, while the rest was buried under concrete.
Police are still searching for her remains, but say her death is "materially proven". Police have also arrested Mr Fernandes's wife, Dayane Souza, and several of his friends.
They say interrogation of the other suspects has backed up the account given by Mr Fernandes's teenage cousin.
Flamengo have suspended Mr Fernandes's contract and say the club lawyer will no longer be acting in his defence.
He had been goalkeeper of the Rio de Janeiro club since 2006, and captained them to the Brazilian championship last year.
Mr Fernandes has expressed regret that the allegations could damage his chances of playing for Brazil in the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals.
