29 February 2024 , 23:13
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The estranged wife of Argentina midfielder Ezequiel Palacios has threatened to sell his World Cup winners' medal and shirt from the final to pay off debt amid a nasty divorce scandal.
Palacios, who is currently plying his trade at Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen, made three appearances as Argentina romped to success in Qatar. However, over a year following the historic triumph, his former partner Yesica Frias has claimed she has auctioned off his precious memorabilia from the greatest achievement of his career.
Frias has allegedly sold the jersey Palacios wore in the World Cup final as Argentina beat France, while the same buyer also purchased the gold medal he received. It's unclear how much both items fetched. Frias has also said that Palacios hadn't been paying for the apartment she lives in and sold the prizes to afford the property.
On her Instagram story, Frias posted a picture with a man holding Palacios' shirt, with the caption: "The buyer of the first shirt! One less installment." That was followed up by Frias sharing a picture that the man shared on his own account showing off the medal.
Frias and Palacios met in Buenos Aires when the midfielder was playing for River Plate. They tied the knot in 2021 but have been in the process of finalising the divorce proceedings.
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"I am going to sell all the shirts and the World Cup champion medal to pay for the apartment," she said on the Argentine TV programme Socios del Espectaculo. "I try to work, but I was four years by his side, he told me that he was not going to finish paying it off because he did not know if it was going to stay with him or not. And I'm just asking for what I deserve, what we did together, and for him to sign the divorce."
Palacios is currently gunning for the first league title of his career with Leverkusen. Alonso's side sit eight points above Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga table and the Argentine praised his manager earlier this season.
Ezequiel Palacios' World Cup winning shirt has been sold (Getty Images)"I think I've improved here…" Palacios, who joined Leverkusen from River Plate in 2020, said back in November. "Obviously football is very different in South America and Europe. I found it hard in the first years, the first year and a half, because of injuries and the lack of consistency.
"That annoys and frustrates you because I was used to playing almost all the time at River Plate, and then I came here and wasn’t playing because of injuries. It’s a test to see if you’re ready. I feel I’ve improved physically. When I arrived, it would get to the 50th or 60th minute and I was very tired and couldn’t finish the game.
"Then a new coach came and I started playing consistently. There was greater personal and physical care. I think I’ve improved there, but also on the pitch. I’ve improved there, thinking more quickly, deciding better in the moments where you have to decide whether to take a touch or keep the ball a bit more."
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