Exequiel Palacios' angry ex-wife threatens to sell his World Cup winner's medal unless he signs divorce papers

The 25-year-old Bayer Leverkusen midfielder formed part of the Albiceleste squad that claimed a global crown in Qatar. He figured alongside Lionel Messi at that tournament and thought he had collected a memento that would offer a lifetime of happy memories.

Palacios is, however, in danger of seeing his prized gold medal sold off by an angry former partner that claims she needs to raise funds in order to pay the mortgage on an apartment that her ex-husband is no longer contributing to.

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Model Yesica Frias, who first met Palacios back in 2018, has told El Trece of putting priceless memorabilia up for sale: “Exequiel told me he wasn’t going to pay what was owed because he didn’t know if he’d get to keep the flat or not. I’m only asking him to sign the divorce and give me what I’m due for the things we did together.”

She added on threats to sell off medals and match-worn jerseys: “It’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to auction off everything to pay for the property if I have to. I have some shirts which Exequiel gave me and there’s some other very valuable things like his World Cup winner's medal. Push comes to shove I’d sell the most important things he’s got as a footballer to clear the debt because I need a roof over my head. I try to work but I was with him for five years.”

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Frias’ Instagram account suggests that process has already begun, with a picture posted online with a man said to have purchased a shirt worn by Palacios at the 2022 World Cup. Palacios, who has 28 senior caps for his country, is currently nursing an injury at Bundesliga leaders Leverkusen, but is expected to return to the field shortly.