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One of the truly amazing things about many players on Bayern Munich’s roster is how humble they are when interacting with fans.
Whether it is Mats Hummels holding an open forum on Twitter or the experience that the players give the fan clubs each year, the team members always seem to have great interactions with fans.
Per a report from Bild, Arjen Robben recently made one fan’s day at a training session after the man inadvertently shot his ball over the protective fence at Säbener Straße.
Fan Alexej Makeev (35) trains every day parallel to the Bayern stars on Säbener Straße in Munich. On Thursday, he unintentionally shot his ball over the fence onto a snow-covered square on the club grounds. Get the ball yourself? No chance! No access for fans and media. Who came to the rescue: Arjen Robben (35). The Dutchman (thigh irritation) was completing his individual training when he heard Makeev’s cries. The fan loudly asked him to give him his ball back.
The happy ending: Robben ran up and threw the ball over the barrier to Makeev. The Dutchman joked: “You have to practice more, boy.” Makeev thanked Robben and was overjoyed — even serenading Robben one day after his birthday. Makeev to BILD: “I’m totally happy that Mr. Arjen Robben gave me my ball back. Now I can train again tomorrow.”
There are A LOT of questions I could ask here — like why the hell does this guy “train” every day next to Säbener Straße — but that’s beside the point. The moral of the story is how Robben, like many of his teammates, always takes a little extra initiative to interact with the club’s fans. Many athletes would have called for a club employee to deal with it. Not the Dutch legend, however, as he provided one more assist in his brilliant career.