Bayern Munich defender Breno was on Thursday released on bail from prison, following 12 days in detention on suspicion of arson, the German league giants announced.
The Bayern star paid 500,000 euros (670,000 US dollars) in bail to secure his freedom, according to German daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung, as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances that saw his luxury villa go up in flames.
"We are very happy that Breno has been released from custody and that he can return to his family and Bayern," said Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in a statement.
"We are grateful to the court and Werner Leitner (Breno's lawyer) that they have dealt with this case fairly and sensitively."
The 21-year-old was taken into custody on September 24 under suspicion of serious arson after fire gutted his house, reported to be worth around 1.5 million euros (2m US dollars), in the Munich suburb of Gruenewald five days earlier.
State prosecutors feared the centre-back would flee back to his native Brazil if he was not detained.
Breno, who joined Bayern from Sao Paulo in 2008, had been briefly hospitalised for smoke inhalation after the blaze, which is reported to have started in a guest room in the basement.
The property was completely gutted, but Breno's wife Renata, their son and two children from Renata's previous relationship were not at home at the time.
The cost of the damage ran to millions of euros.
Before his arrest, the centre-back had sought psychiatric help at the renowned Max-Planck Psychiatry Institute for depression as he suffers from a knee injury that has kept him from playing so far this season.
Bayern's director of sport Christian Nerlinger has said getting Breno back into the Bayern squad is now a high priority.
"Our medical department, with team doctor Dr Hans-Wilhelm Mueller-Wohlfahrt in charge, will now see to it that the knee injury is completely cured, so the player can be reintegrated as soon as possible into regular team training," he said.
Breno has made just 21 league appearances in three seasons, having also spent six months on loan to Bundesliga side Nuremberg.
Source: AFP
