It appears that one Newcastle United player is keen to bring an end to his time at the Premier League giants this summer and his wife-to-be would be more than happy to see her fiancée swap Tyneside for Italy.
Long-term relationships are never easy.
You only have to ask a man who lives some 1,000 miles north of his fiancée, a two-hour flight separating Newcastle United goalkeeper Loris Karius from his Italian-based partner Diletta Leotta.
With a wedding scheduled for June, and with Leotta’s career as a Sky Italia presenter keeping her from joining Karius on Tyneside, the most natural solution appears to be that the former Liverpool, Besiktas and Mainz ‘keeper finds himself a new home in Serie A.
That might go some way to explaining why Karius has handed control over his future to Claudio Marchisio, the former Juventus and Italy midfielder who set up his very own agency a few weeks ago.
Newcastle goalkeeper is keen on Serie A switch
“Of course, it would be a great solution if there were good options for me (in Italy),” Karius tells Gazzetta dello Sport. “I have always followed Serie A and it intrigues me a lot.
“Claudio (Marchisio) and I are friends, I know him well and I think he is the right person (to represent me).”
Of course, there are more than just geographical reasons behind Karius’ desire for a fresh start. The 30-year-old German has only played twice since joining Eddie Howe’s side during the 2022/23 campaign, and remains firmly third-choice behind Nick Pope and Martin Dubravka.
“I want to go back to being a number one like I always have been, except for the last two years,” adds Karius, who unfortunately will always be remembered for that Champions League final. “When I play, I do well. And I know I have enough quality to perform at the highest levels again.”
Karius, then, will be looking for a club not only closer to his wife’s home but also one capable of offering him the sort of regular minutes he so obviously craves. Monza and an ambitious promotion-chasing Como outfit may just fall into that ‘Goldilocks zone’.
Lorius Karius seldom-seen at St James’
“I hope to see him in Italy, perhaps near Milan,” said Leotta says via Tuttomercatoweb. “So Monza, yes. But we can also get to Como.”
Monza, tenth in Serie A, will be looking for a goalkeeper if – as expected – the much-admired Michele di Gregorio moves on.
Meanwhile, Como, who employ Arsenal and Chelsea icon Cesc Fabregas as a coach, have established themselves as a home for footballers in need of a fresh start. Ex-Wolves misfit Patrick Cutrone is currently on the roster, alongside one-time Celtic loanee Oliver Abildgaard.
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