My mum said: ‘Germany is our second home' and it's true. Germany gave us their open hands. I don't know which country could have done that, at that time, to welcome refugees from Bosnia.

I remember my dad took my ice skates. One day I asked my mum: ‘Where are my ice skates?' because I loved to skate in the winter. And she said through tears: ‘Dad is selling them now… we don't have money for this week.'

My mum was working in Walmart for €350 per month, about £280. My father was working as a house painter. We had a difficult situation with money.

Dejan Lovren Quotes