Bayer Leverkusen Celebrate 10 Years of Kai Havertz With Fascinating Documentary
By Tom Gott
Kai Havertz is the talk of Europe this summer. He's spent a year making headlines because of his goalscoring exploits on the pitch, and now he's in the news over a potential blockbuster transfer to Chelsea.
Since first joining Leverkusen in August 2010 at the age of 11, Havertz has gone from strength to strength. The once awkward youngster blossomed into one of the world's elite young talents, and now he's got a price tag which reflects that.
His emergence is one of the biggest success stories in modern German football, and Leverkusen have paid tribute to his ten-year journey at the club with a fascinating documentary: Kai - The Havertz Story.
The documentary, which is available for free on Leverkusen's YouTube channel, shows Havertz's transition from a child prodigy into one of the most electric players in world football, detailing how the 21-year-old made it to where he is today and the problems he had to overcome to get there.
Featuring in-depth interviews from past and present coaches, as well as close friends like Borussia Dortmund's Julian Brandt, viewers are given a deeper look into what makes Havertz so special and how he managed to stand out.
"I don't remember exactly when I first noticed Kai," says international teammate and Real Madrid star Toni Kroos. "If you've watched him for even just a second, then of course, you'll see his quality, his process and his eye for both goals and assists at such a young age.
"But what stood out for me is that his character is completely grounded - something which I believe is just as important as his ability with the ball."
With exclusive, never-before-seen footage of Havertz during his youth, including his first-ever interview and private footage of training sessions, fans are given the chance to see a side of Havertz which is seldom shown on the pitch.
It's a must-watch for any fan - Leverkusen, Chelsea or otherwise - and can be enjoyed right now on YouTube.