Police have arrested a man suspected of stealing £30,000 from Paris Saint-Germain superstar Neymar.

The 20-year-old has been held in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo on suspicion of targeting the star forward and other celebrities through fraudulent instant bank transfers known in Neymar’s homeland as PIX.

Police say more than £30,000 was taken from the Brazil international in small amounts during different online transactions, although the account targeted is believed to be managed by the footballer’s dad.

Sao Paulo chief Fabio Pinheiro Lopes told local media: “He used the log-in of a colleague and allegedly began to steal small amounts of money from the accounts of famous people with high purchasing power.

“These people didn’t realise at all. He did one for £1,400, another for £2,800 and afterwards £7,000.

“Neymar’s case has a peculiarity because the person who transferred the money was a bank worker, someone who was employed by an outsourced firm hired by the bank”