Former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius received cheers from his TV presenter wife in the stands as he had an impressive debut for German team Schalke on Friday night.
Karius has been looking to revitalize his career in the German second division, having joined Schalke in January on a short-term deal until the season ends.
This move concluded a period of inactivity after leaving Newcastle at the end of last season, with his last appearance occurring during the Magpies’ 4-1 loss to Arsenal on February 24 last year.
He got his first start in over a year on Friday night against Preussen Munster, having been the backup to Justin Heekeren previously.
Karius was supported from the stands by his wife Diletta Leotta, an Italian TV presenter.
Leotta posted clips on social media of Karius warming up before his debut for the German club.
Karius celebrated with his wife Diletta Leotta after his remarkable debut for Schalke.
Leotta’s attendance at the match followed reports that she had chosen to stay in Milan.
Leotta watched from the stands as Karius prepared for his first match in over a year.
Karius made a significant impact for Schalke, executing a stunning late double save from Niko Koulis and David Kinsombi, leading to his teammates surrounding him.
The 31-year-old made several impressive saves during the 2. Bundesliga match, contributing to Schalke’s narrow 1-0 victory.
The win alleviated Schalke’s relegation worries, putting them nine points clear of the drop zone.
“For a goalkeeper, it’s beneficial to stand out,” Karius told Sky Germany post-match.
“I aimed to provide the team with stability and handle any threats to the goal.
“That’s my role; I would be disappointed if I didn’t make those saves. It felt good for the debut.”
Schalke manager Kees van Wonderen praised Karius’ performance in the win, asserting that the former Liverpool and Newcastle keeper proved he could “make a difference for his side.”
“It’s always a tough choice (to switch the goalkeeper),” Van Wonderen commented, as reported by The Athletic.
Karius made a series of notable saves to help Schalke secure a narrow 1-0 win.
The ex-Liverpool goalkeeper made several key saves during the match to clinch the victory.
Karius stated it was good “to stand out” following his pivotal role in the important win.
Leotta, who presents Serie A broadcasts on DAZN, shared photos of Karius being celebrated by his teammates after his vital double save, captioning it “MVP.”
The goalkeeper was also seen waving to his wife in the stands post-match, with another photo capturing their embrace after the game.
Leotta reportedly initially found Karius’ move to the German club puzzling, urging him to relocate closer to Milan before ultimately supporting his choice.
Last year, Leotta asked Karius to leave Newcastle and play in Italy after she had given birth to their daughter, Aria.
“I explained it to her. She wishes me well in my career and said she fully supports it,” Karius shared in January.
“Milan isn’t far away. We can find solutions. She has a lot to manage too, so we’ll be traveling back and forth a bit.
“If your partner is also in the spotlight, it’s clear that some things will be reported. But I never actively sought that. For me, sports have always been the priority.”
Karius and Leotta wed in June last year on an Italian volcanic island called Vulcano.
The lavish ceremony on Vulcano was attended by around 160 guests.
There had been tension in the months leading up as Leotta urged him to leave Newcastle, where he made two appearances in two seasons, seeking a move to Italy.
“Loris has people around him who work for him,” she told Italian newspaper Tuttosport.
“I hope he makes the best choice for his career.
“I live in Milan, so being near Milan would be ideal for us. I always tell him that players who come to Serie A often fall in love with Italy and stay forever. I think he could too.
“[He should join] Monza or any other Italian team. I would be thrilled if he played closer to his family.
“Newcastle is quite inconvenient due to the lack of direct flights. Neither to Paris nor to Amsterdam.”
The couple announced their engagement last January, five months after their daughter’s birth, with Diletta sharing a photo on Instagram featuring her new ring.
They began dating in October 2022, following Karius’ departure from Liverpool, but faced a long-distance relationship due to their careers.
In addition to her role as a sports presenter for DAZN, Diletta is also a model.