Grosskreutz leaves Stuttgart after attack

World Cup winner Kevin Grosskreutz has left Stuttgart by mutual consent following a city-centre altercation that left him hospitalised.

Wide man Grosskreutz – part of Germany’s victorious squad in Brazil in 2014 – was admitted to hospital with a laceration to his head following an incident in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

The 28-year-old has since been discharged but will not play for 2. Bundesliga outfit Stuttgart again after both parties agreed to go their separate ways.

“I made a mistake, which I am very sorry about,” he said in a statement. “I accept the consequences and regret that my time at VfB is over. 

“I would like to thank the team, the staff and especially the fans, who have supported me well in the last few days.”

Grosskreutz was subsequently quoted as telling a news conference: “I don’t want anything to do with professional football for the time being.”

Sporting director Jan Schindelmeiser commented that Grosskreutz had “screwed up big”, while head coach Hannes Wolf conceded the club were left with little option but to allow him to leave.

“After what happened, the termination of the co-operation with Kevin was the only logical step,” he said. 

“This is not a simple situation for us. Nevertheless, it is important now that we shape the immediate future of the club and concentrate as quickly as possible on the difficult game in Braunschweig [on Monday].”