Bayern Munich's Brazilian defender Breno is to remain in custody in connection with an arson investigation, a prosecution office in Munich ruled Thursday.

Breno, whose full name is Vinicius Rodrigues Borges, will remain behind bars until the results from an ongoing police investigation into a fire at the player's luxury home are heard.

The 21-year-old defender was arrested Saturday on suspicion of arson after his villa in the exclusive Grünwald district of Munich was destroyed causing up to 1.5 million euros ($2.05 million) in damage.

Breno was briefly hospitalized for smoke inhalation after fleeing the blaze, which was believed to have started in a guest room in the basement. His wife and the couple's three children were away from the house at the time of the fire and no one was injured.

Flight risk

According to reports, state prosecutors no longer harbor fears that Breno, originally from Sao Paulo, might flee back to Brazil.

After the court hearing Breno's lawyer, Werner Leitner, said he believed his client would be released soon after fully cooperating with the authorities.

Following his arrest, Bayern Munich confirmed that Breno had sought psychiatric help at their request. The player, who joined Bayern in 2008, is also suffering from chronic knee pain and faced another knee operation which threatened his career.

Author: Charlotte Chelsom-Pill (AFP, dpa)
Editor: Martin Kuebler