Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny says he was happy to help out a French factory in his home town, helping the company avoid bankruptcy and employees avoid losing their jobs.
In 2014 the Maugein accordion factory in Kosicleny's home town of Tulle got into trouble and looked to be heading out of business, something which would have cost 20 jobs and put an end to a company formed in 1919.
Koscielny, informed about the troubles affecting France's oldest accordion factory, agreed to sink €600,000 into the business and is delighted he was able to do so.
The Arsenal defender, who has sought to avoid publicity, says it was "natural" that he chose to help as he did not want an old business to close and families to suffer from the resultant job losses.
"Thanks to me and others, it [the company was saved]", he told French sports daily L'Equipe.
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"It works well. My parents keep me informed. The company is trying to refloat and reboot. But it takes time, work on research, new instruments. I hope that it will succeed and all the employees will be able to keep working there."
Asked why he chose to help, Koscielny said: "They met my parents and explained the situation. The company was on the verge of bankruptcy – they needed investors. My mother told me.
"I liked it [the company]. It is a 100-year old company. The accordion is something of cultural heritage for us. We have a festival [in Tulle], the pearl nights, something known as important. We had to save the company.
"We had to save those who work there, their families and their future. I have the chance to earn a good living and have money. It was natural that I help."
Koscielny did not court the media over his investment and tried to keep it as low profile as possible. And his stance has not changed, as he feels people do not need to know he came to the company's rescue.
"They were not supposed to know. People do not need to know that I helped the company, the money [I invested]…but people talk too much."
