Gelsenkirchen, Germany  - Schalke defender Marcelo Bordon has returned to his native Brazil to look after his sick mother, the club announced on Friday.

The 33-year-old former Schalke captain was going to miss the club's final Bundesliga match against Hoffenheim with a cold and asked the club for permission to look after his mother.

Although Bordon still has a contract until 2011 with the German team his situation remains unclear as the club has announced that there will be a restructuring of the squad and the budget has to be decreased from 55 million euro (75.9 million dollars) to 45 million euros.

Coach Felix Magath, who will be taking over the team for the new season, will have to introduce a number of young players.(dpa)