“Some teammates call me donkey” – a smile appeared on Kai Havertz’s face.

“Not because of the way I play,” added the Arsenal star, as if he thought he had to (donkey also means idiot).

Instead, he spoke to the animal more deeply. “For a long time, I felt a special connection with the donkeys. It was a calm animal; maybe I see myself in them, because I am also very calm.

“He is cold, doesn’t do much, just wants to live his life. I love them very much. Every time I lose a battle, I go to the zoo. Looking at the animals, I see something human. It’s a kind of spiritual healing, where I feel at peace.”

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In Wimbledon, the morning was chilly and damp. Havertz is discussing life, football, and all things associated with it, such as work, politics, and finances. The German player discusses the changes at Chelsea and the situation of football in general with composure and clarity. Of course, his own: about the strain on players to meet and exceed fan expectations, about being the winner of the Champions League and scoring the winning goal. Animals are still the primary focus, though.

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As it turned out, that was what moved him the most. Havertz’s mother is a lawyer, and his father is a police officer. Born and raised in Aachen, as a kid, they gave him a cute donkey. When Havertz was 18, his parents gave him three donkeys, “a special gift, adopted from a sanctuary”.

The first donkey was named Toni, “like Rüdiger’s name”, and another, named Hope, was rescued from the butcher’s hands while tied around his neck. “He’s gone, now he’s got a better life,” said the 24-year-old.

Havertz revealed: “My family and I support things like animals – this is very important for me.

“I try my best to help people help animals. In the future it will be an even bigger thing for me.

“From my first years as a kid, my favorite animal was always the donkey. It was a dream for me some day to have one.

“I am very lucky – and now is a good opportunity to help save donkeys from the butcher or the circus and things like that.

“Of course, football is one of the most important things in my life. But, to be honest, there are many more important things in life than football.

“And animals are very important for the world. I want them to have a better life.”

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Havertz says that growing up, his favorite animal was the donkey