Stuttgart, Grosskreutz part ways

Stuttgart have confirmed that they have mutually agreed to terminate Kevin Grosskreutz's contract just days after he was attacked while on a night out.

The former Germany international was taken to hospital after an altercation earlier in the week.

Grosskreutz himself has insisted he wants to take a break away from football and has urged fans and the media to leave him, and his family alone.

He said: "I want to calm down now and don't want to have to do anything with professional football for the moment. Please leave me and my family alone.

"I've made a mistake, I'm very sorry. I accept the consequences and regret my time at VfB so far. I would like to thank the team, the staff and especially the fans, who have supported me well in the past days."

Stuttgart's head coach Hannes Wolf, meanwhile, has supported the decision to release Grosskreutz, insisting the club had no choice.