Bayern Munich's Javi Martinez has revealed why he helped some of the refugees who flooded into Munich last month and says he is proud of how the Bavarian capital reacted.
"It was something which came from me, I could at least coax a smile from these people in what was for them a difficult moment," the Spain international told Wednesday's edition of Munich newspaper AZ.
The defensive midfielder went to Munich’s central station last month to hand out footballs and Bayern shirts to some of the refugees pouring into the city by train.
“It was worth it, just to see all the children forget everything which was going on around them when they received a ball,” he said.
“They forgot how it is to see their parents cry or to cry themselves.
“They played as though nothing was going on around them. It was touching to see.”
The 27-year-old said he was impressed by what he saw as volunteers distributed donated aid and helped the authorities as up to 12,000 refugees arrived in Munich in a single day last month.
Since then, Germany has tightened regulations at its borders and refugees arriving in Munich are transported to other cities to be processed for asylum.
“Munich is an exemplary city in the refugee issue,” said Martinez.
“I am proud to live in such a generous city which behaves in such an exemplary manner. All cities should be like Munich.”
German champions Bayern have pledged €1 million (Dh4.2m) to help those refugees housed in Munich and plan to set up training camps for migrant children which will involve free meals, clothing and German lessons.
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