Michael Olise, the 24-year-old France international footballer, has been publicly described as "heartless" by the mother of his 20-month-old daughter, who alleges he has never met the child or contributed financially to her upbringing.
Fatima Zaunbrecher, 34, revealed her story to German outlet BILD, stating that Olise has not communicated with her directly since their daughter Aaliyah Noor's birth, opting instead to communicate through legal representatives. According to Zaunbrecher, Olise's lawyers advised him that meeting his daughter "wouldn't be productive."
"How heartless can you be towards your child?" Zaunbrecher questioned in the interview, expressing her devastation at his "callousness." She further stated that lawyers had sent her letters suggesting she purchase "secondhand clothes to make ends meet."
Zaunbrecher, who is based in Dusseldorf, met Olise in 2022 after they began communicating on Instagram. Their relationship started while Olise was playing for Crystal Palace, prior to his transfer to Bayern Munich. Zaunbrecher recounted that their first date occurred after two months of messages, and that they "liked each other immediately."
She described their shared interests, noting Olise's dual Algerian and Moroccan heritage and his aversion to large crowds, similar to her own preferences. Zaunbrecher also mentioned that on their first date, she suggested getting to know each other better before physical intimacy, which Olise accepted. She subsequently flew to London regularly.
Their relationship reportedly became strained due to Olise's frequent gaming on his PlayStation and alleged infidelity, Zaunbrecher claimed. She stated that she discovered she was pregnant two weeks after ending their relationship over a suspected other woman.
A paternity test, conducted in Munich at Olise's request, has confirmed his fatherhood of Aaliyah. Despite this, Zaunbrecher maintains he has never met their daughter.
Sources close to the footballer, cited by BILD, suggested that Olise has not refused contact with Zaunbrecher. However, Zaunbrecher claims she has been in a dispute with Olise's lawyers for over two years regarding alimony, stating his initial offer was "ridiculous."
Olise, known for his private social media presence and a tendency to avoid the public spotlight, has reportedly seen his social media comments inundated with replies since the story broke in the German press. He has since disabled comments on his Instagram account. BILD also published a document purporting to confirm Olise's paternity. The footballer has not yet released a public statement.