Goncalo Amaral, the Portuguese cop who first led the hunt for Madeleine, revealed last week that police were probing a "German paedophile who is in prison".
The 48-year-old paedophile was working for a church on a project for the homeless in Portugal when Madeleine disappeared, according to new claims.
Ney is also now a bombshell suspect, with the killer looking extremely similar to the photofit of a man who was seen acting suspiciously before Madeleine disappeared from the holiday apartment more than 12 years ago.
The paedophile was familiar with the Algarve after being a regular traveller to Portugal in the 1990s.
Following the opening of the Madeleine case, Amaral revealed on Australian TV that British cops were focusing on a jailed German.
He claimed it had "one investigation line" — and slammed British authorities for only looking at one possibility.
Mr Amaral said: "Detectives are preparing the end of the investigation, with a German paedophile who is in prison right now."
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