Jonas Gutierrez's mother has reportedly claimed that she considered taking her own life because of the way that her son was treated by Newcastle United.
Gutierrez is suing the Premier League club for around £2m, claiming for disability discrimination, after he was released by the club in May 2015.
During an employment tribunal in Birmingham, Gutierrez claimed that the club felt that he was a "liability" after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.
The Argentine had a tumour removed in October 2013 and was informed by then-manager Alan Pardew in December of that year that the club were not going to renew his contract.
During the tribunal, the footballer's mother Monica Montore revealed that she contemplated suicide because of the ordeal.
"I was so distressed at what they had done to Jonas, I just wanted to take my own life at the club's door," BBC Sport quotes Ms Montore as saying.
"I was going to leave a letter to say what a terrible way they had treated Jonas. He returns from his operation to have lost a testicle - from a hit on Newcastle's pitch, he returns from that operation and they throw him out like a bad dog."
Pardew and former manager John Carver are expected to give evidence during the trial.
Danielle Joynson
