Karius responds after wife REFUSES to move with him following January transfer

Loras Karius has been unveiled as a new signing at Schalke, but has completed his move to the German team without his wife by his side.

The former Liverpool goalkeeper has been without a club since leaving Newcastle at the end of his contract last summer. Karius has signed a contract until the end of the season with the second division.

The German shotstopper will compete with Justin Heekeren for a starting spot, after not playing much football in recent years. After making 49 appearances for Liverpool, the 31-year-old was loaned out to Besiktas and Union Berlin before making just two appearances for Newcastle after joining the club as a free agent in September 2022.

Karius gets the extra challenge of making the move a success without his wife Diletta Leotta. The television presenter, who presents Serie A broadcasts on DAZN, wanted her husband to join her in Italy.

Leotta is said to have struggled to understand Karius' move to Germany as he tries to restart his career. “Of course she hoped a little for Italy,” Karius told reporters.

“I explained it to her. She wishes me the best in my career and said she fully supports it.

'Milan is not far away. We can find ways to solve it. She also has a lot going on, so we'll both be commuting back and forth a bit.

“If your partner is also in the public eye, it's clear that something is being reported. But I never actively pushed myself into it. For me, the sport was always the priority.”

Leotta previously revealed she was desperate for Karius to leave Newcastle, as well as the challenges of traveling to and from the city. She made no secret of her wish that Karius would fall in love with Italy.

“Loris has people at his side who work for him,” she told Tuttosport. “I hope he makes the best decision for his career.

“I live in Milan, so let's say being close to Milan would be ideal for us. I always say to him: players who come to Serie A then fall in love with Italy and often stay there forever. I think that could happen to him too.” .

“[He should join] Monza or another team in Italy. I would be happy if he came to Italy to play with his family. Newcastle is very difficult because there are no direct flights. Neither about Paris nor about Amsterdam.”