Casparij: Gardener mix-up & cat tattoos

Kerstin Casparij, a key player for Manchester City, recently appeared on BBC Sport's Eat & Yap series. During the segment, she prepared Dutch oliebollen, a New Year's delicacy, and expressed her aversion to raisins, a common ingredient. Casparij, who hails from Friesland in the Netherlands, discussed her upbringing in a sports-oriented family and her hyper-focused, energetic childhood, which led to an ADHD diagnosis.

She recounted how her girlfriend initially mistook her for a gardener upon meeting, unaware of her professional football career due to the lack of sports photos on her dating profile. Casparij now resides in Manchester with her girlfriend and their two cats, Kiwi and Mango, even sporting tattoos of the feline pair. The footballer also touched upon the team's strong performance this season, attributing their success to newfound freedom and trust in their playing style.

Casparij highlighted the diverse environment at Manchester City, appreciating the multicultural team which has broadened her perspective beyond her northern Dutch hometown. She described her role as an 'annoying little mosquito' on the field, adept at disruption rather than aerial duels. Casparij also spoke about the open communication within team meetings and the importance of team bonding activities to foster deeper connections off the pitch.