Rudiger: I have Messi shirt when we played Barcelona in UCL and it's big honour

Rudiger recalls making homemade football shirts and his evolving English vocabulary.

First: What was the first football kit you ever wore?

It was a shirt I made for myself. My parents didn’t have so much money to buy me one so I made one for myself - it was number nine, George Weah. It was just a white t-shirt and I wrote the number nine and his name on the back.

Last: When was the last time you wore a football shirt of a team you weren’t playing for?

That would be a long time ago when I was like 15-years-old. I can’t remember the team.

Always: What is the best old football shirt you have kept?

I have Lionel Messi’s shirt from when we played Barcelona in the Champions League a couple of years ago. It was a big honour for me to play against a player like him so I just asked him after the game when we shook hands.

I thought for sure he doesn’t want mine but then Cesc Fabregas was nearby and he said ‘give him your shirt, he wants your shirt too!’

First: What was the first tattoo you had?

It was after I made my debut in 2012. That was the first one I put on my left arm.

Last: What was the last tattoo you had?

It was about five years ago and I had my whole chest done. It was pretty painful.

Always: Have you ever had a tattoo removed?

No, I’ve kept them all. I don’t think if you put something on your skin you should remove it with the laser so I just leave them.

First: What was the first movie you really liked growing up?

I liked Free Willy, that’s a nice movie.

Last: What was the last film or TV programme you watched?

The last thing I watched was a documentary about jails. I like them because it shows a different world to mine and it’s very interesting.

Always: What have you watched most often in your life?

A film that I’ve watched a lot is Blood In Blood Out. It’s about the gangs in Los Angeles.

First: When you were a child, where did you go on holiday?

When I was a young child I didn’t go on any holidays. My first holiday was when I was about 19 or 20 when I paid for myself.

Last: What is the most recent place you have visited for a break?

Dubai in the winter break.

Always: Where do you go to most often?

That is Dubai as well, I like it a lot.

First: When was the first time you learned English?

When I was really young, about three years old at home.

Last: What was the most recent new word or phrase you learned?

There is a lot but the last one was rapid. For me, you say the guy is quick but Danny Drinkwater said to me ‘this guy is rapid’ and I didn’t know what that meant. I made sense when I thought about it but I never had it in my vocabulary before.

Always: What in English have you never got the hang of?

I understand most things but Ross Barkley’s English I don’t understand! And also Billy Gilmour – his Scottish accent is very difficult.