Loris Karius handed dramatic pay cut with TV presenter wife Diletta Leotta now earning more than ex-Premier League star
LORIS KARIUS is set to earn less than TV presenter wife Diletta Leotta at Schalke, according to reports.
The former Liverpool goalkeeper, 31, is attempting to resurrect his career with the second-tier German side.
Karius has barely played in recent years, making just two appearances since February 2021.
Remarkably, one of these outings came in Newcastle‘s 2023 Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester United, while the other was in a Premier League loss to Arsenal.
The German had been without a club since leaving St James’ Park earlier this season.
But this month he pulled the gloves back on, signing for Schalke until the end of the season.
According to German paper Bild, Karius has signed, by elite football standards, a modest contract.
They claim that he will receive around £125,000 between now and the end of the season, equating to approximately £5,700 a week.
Schalke’s higher earners, for example, are said to pocket around £10k a week.
Bild add that Karius’ wife Leotta earns around £840k a year for her presenting work, as DAZN‘s lead Serie A host in Italy.
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This means that she will pocket significantly more than Karius.
Leotta is not set to move to Germany with Karius, instead staying in Milan.
The former Champions League finalist is said to be living with a friend in Dusseldorf.
Karius is optimistic about revitalising his career back in Germany.
Upon signing, he said: “I had very good discussions with the Schalke officials and I’m looking forward to training with the team.
“Schalke 04 is a big club with passionate fans, I’ve always felt that at my games in the arena.”
Karius will not automatically become Schalke’s No1.
He will compete with current incumbent Justin Heekeren for the position.
The former Anfield stopper has been with Leotta since 2022, with the pair welcoming their first child in August of the following year.
They wed in a private ceremony in Sicily last summer.