Bayern Munich star Jerome Boateng has left the FIFA Club World Cup and is travelling back to Germany after hearing that his ex-girlfriend had committed suicide.
The 32-year-old has been one of the pillars of Bayern's squad over the past year, but has now been hit by a personal tragedy.
Just days after he broke up with Kasia Lenhardt, the 25-year-old model was found dead in her flat in Berlin.
"Yesterday around 8:30 police was called to a scene in Charlottenburg due to the suspicion of a suicide. We found the lifeless body of a person in the flat. There are no clues about the involvement of others," a police statement read, as per Bild.
Bayern manager Hans-Dieter Flick confirmed on Wednesday that Boateng had left the Bayern squad to travel home after hearing the sad news.
"The news from Berlin hurt us very much," he said.
"Jerome has asked me to let him travel back to Germany. He will not be available to us until further notice."
Boateng and Kasia began dating just over a year ago, but the couple broke up on 2 February, as the Bayern star confirmed via Instagram.
"As is known from the media, I ended the relationship with Kasia Lenhardt," he wrote.
"We will go our separate ways from now on. That is regrettable, but for my family and for me it is the only right one.
"I had to take this step and draw a line. I apologise to everyone I've hurt especially with my ex-girlfriend Rebecca and our children.
"I am disappointed in myself too. A man has to take responsibility and act in the interests of his family and I'm doing it now.
"I wish Kasia all the best. Jerome Boateng."
