Brazilian footballer Daniel Correa Freitas has been found brutally murdered and his body mutilated in a backstreet of Sao Jose dos Pinhais.

The 24 year old attacking midfielder's body was discovered in a bush, with his head almost hacked off and his genitals removed.

The death was confirmed by his parent club Sao Paulo on Twitter yesterday.

A Brazilian news report described his injuries as "two deep cuts on his neck, his head was nearly beheaded, and his genitals were severed."

The player had started his career with Botafogo in 2013 and scored five goals from 14 appearances in his debut season.

But he never settled after a move to Sao Paulo in 2015, playing only eight games without reward and was sent out on a series of loans to Coritba, Ponte Preta and Sao Bento.

He was close to the end of his loan with Sao Bento when he was killed, after making just two appearances for his loan club.

Police are investigating the savage murder but there is so far no known motive for the killing.