Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's absence from Borussia Dortmund's Champions League squad has been revealed after the striker was suspended for taking an unsanctioned mini-break to Italy.
The striker was left out of the Bundesliga club's 1-0 victory over Sporting on Wednesday amid reports that he had breached team meeting regulations by playing on his phone.
However, the Daily Mirror claims that Aubameyang flew to Varese in Italy to attend a friend's party at the Hotel Villa Borghi on Monday evening, and images on the Instagram accounts of other guests appear to back up the newspaper's allegation.
Speaking in the wake of his side's win, Dortmund Boss Thomas Tuchel refused to be drawn over Aubameyang's situation following the speculation.
He said: "It was very difficult to do without him, but it was that I had no choice.
"The decision was made yesterday [Tuesday] afternoon. In the next game, he will be back, but internal reasons means internal. I do not account for speculation."
Tuchel's comments were backed up by Dortmund's chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke, who insisted that the German outfit would not be releasing details over the reports concerning their star striker.
He added: "The internal reasons are exactly that: internal.
"I will not say anything. But the good thing is he will be fresh against Hamburg. He will be back in the squad against Hamburg."
Aubameyang was scolded in front of his teammates by Tuchel upon his return on Tuesday and was told that he would be temporarily banned by Dortmund, but Tuchel added that the frontman still had to turn up at the Westfalonstadion to support his fellow players on the pitch.
The Gabon international watched the narrow win from the stands but left 10 minutes before the end. He is expected to return to first-team training on Thursday and will be part of Tuchel's squad for the Bundesliga clash with Hamburg on Saturday.
Aubameyang has already bagged 10 goals in 13 appearances for Dortmund so far this season, but his sensational form in front of goal has not helped propel Die Borussia climb the league standings.
Dortmund currently lie sixth with 15 points from their opening nine games, and sit eight points off league leaders and title rivals Bayern Munich even at this early stage.
Aubameyang has become one of the most sought-after strikers in world football thanks to a strike rate of 90 goals in 156 appearances for Dortmund, with Manchester City and Real Madrid both linked with big-money moves for him in recent months.
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