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 second-tier side.
The German shotstopper will compete with Justin Heekeren for a starting spot having not played much football in recent years. After making 49 appearances for Liverpool, the 31-year-old spent time on loan at Besiktas and Union Berlin before featuring just twice for Newcastle after joining the club as a free agent in September 2022.
Karius will have the additional challenge of making the move a success without his wife, Diletta Leotta. The television presenter, who presents Serie A broadcasts on DAZN, was keen to see her husband join her in Italy.
Leotta is said to have struggled to understand Karius' move to Germany as he attempts to kickstart his career once again. "Of course she was hoping a little for Italy," Karius told reporters.
"I explained it to her. She wishes me the best in my career and said she is fully behind it.
"Milan is not far away. We can find ways to solve it. She has a lot to do too, so we will both be commuting back and forth a bit.
"If your partner is also in the public eye, it's clear that something will be reported. But I never actively pushed myself into it. For me, the sport was always the priority."
Leotta has previously revealed that she was desperate for Karius to depart Newcastle, such were the challenges travelling to and from the city. She made no secret of her desire for Karius to 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 tell 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 any other team in Italy. I would be happy if he came to Italy to play near his family. Newcastle is very inconvenient because there are no direct flights. Neither about Paris nor about Amsterdam."