Matheus Nunes 'ARRESTED' after 'stole a phone from a fan in a nightclub toilet'

Manchester City midfielder Matheus Nunes has reportedly been arrested on suspicion of stealing a mobile phone in a Madrid nightclub.

The 26-year-old Portuguese international is said to have been held in the early hours on September 8 at sprawling disco La Riviera and taken to a local police station for questioning.

Respected Spanish daily El Mundo said the arrest occurred around 5.30am after he was accused of taking the phone from a 58-year-old man who had tried to take a photo of him without permission in the nightclub toilets.

Brazilian-born Nunes is said to have snatched the mobile in a fit of anger and refused to return it.

Police made the arrest according to El Mundo after being called to the club and confirming the footballer still had the phone in his possession.

The former Wolves player was reportedly handcuffed at the nightspot before being taken to a National Police station in the Madrid neighbourhood of Arganzuela.

He is said to have been released hours later following the intervention of a lawyer.

El Mundo reported he is expected to face charges and trial over the incident.

A spokesman for the National Police in Madrid said: 'I can confirm a Portuguese national was arrested in the early hours of September 8 at a Madrid nightclub on suspicion of stealing another person’s mobile phone.'

The police force confirmed the man arrested was born in 1998, the same year Man City midfielder Matheus Nunes was born, but said it was unable to comment on whether the suspect was the footballer.

A well-placed source said: 'This matter will now be resolved by way of a trial in court.'

Those with knowledge of the situation have, however, denied that Nunes was arrested and faces charges.

The 26-year-old is said to have pushed the man’s arm after they remained persistent in their request for a photo, against his wishes, with the phone falling out of their hand. It is claimed the man then called the police, who attended the scene but left without making an arrest.

Mail Sport has contacted Nunes’ representatives for comment.

Nunes had reportedly been in Madrid with friends after he had not been called up by Portugal for international duty last month.

The 26-year-old came off the bench for Man City in their first match after the international break, playing the final minutes of their 2-1 win over Brentford.

Nunes made his first start of the campaign in a 2-1 Carabao Cup victory over Watford last month, scoring Man City’s second goal.

He was an unused substitute in Man City’s last two Premier League matches against Arsenal and Newcastle, but played the full match in their 4-0 Champions League win over Slovan Bratislava on Tuesday night.