Loris Karius has been offered the chance to 'rediscover his self-belief' with a year spell playing for Rimini FC, recently promoted to the Italian third division.
The eyes of the world were watching when Karius gifted Real Madrid two goals in Saturday's European Cup final, firstly by throwing the ball straight at Karim Benzema to open the scoring, and then by fumbling Gareth Bale's long-range strike and dropping it over the line.
Karius came out and apologised for his actions, which left him in tears after the final whistle, and the speculation has started that Liverpool will up the ante in their hunt to sign a new goalkeeper this summer; Alisson, the Roma and Brazil keeper, and Atletico Madrid glovesman Jan Oblak are the two preferred candidates.
With Karius likely to start next season out of Jurgen Klopp's plans, he has been offered the chance to leave the limelight and the pressure and 'rediscover his self-belief' playing in Italy's lower leagues.
Rimini FC, who have just won promotion to the Italian third tier, Lega Pro, have offered Karius the chance to join them for a year as a birthday present.
Rimini President Giorgio Grassi wrote in an open letter, translated by Football Italia: "On June 22, Loris Karius will turn 25 years old. I would like to host the German goalkeeper for a few days in Rimini, a welcoming town that has always been frequented by his fellow countrymen and women.
"I would be happy to meet him in Rimini to remind him that it just takes courage, or perhaps good sense, to understand the best life lessons are often also the toughest, the most difficult to bear.
"We've all been through these moments, unfortunately for him, his moment was in front of millions of people. At the end of the day, the only real failure is allowing defeat to get the better of us.
"I would like to help Loris become a great example to those who in football, as in life, fall and get back on their feet. I'd like to offer a gift for his birthday: a year-long contract with Rimini FC, the ideal club to rediscover his calm, self-belief and strength to follow his dreams.
"Let it be clear, this wouldn't be a walk in the park, because he'd be in competition with a great goalkeeper like Francesco 'Ciccio' Scotti, but he'd certainly find a big family and a city ready to support him as he got back to being a Number One in the Lega Pro."
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