‘Since I’ve had horses, I feel calmer’ – Brighton’s Georginio Rutter on his passion for race horses | OneFootball

Speaking in an interview with L’Équipe, Brighton and Hove Albion attacking midfielder Georginio Rutter (22) revealed his love outside of playing in Premier League: horses and horse racing. Nestled in the Sussex countryside, the Seagulls player spoke to the French newspaper in the company of his two horses Brightlee and Le Morbihan. What began as childhood memories of a racetrack in his home region then blossomed into a genuine passion during his time at Leeds United. “When I moved from Hoffenheim to England, I saw stables everywhere,” he recalls. “That’s when I knew I wanted to own a horse.”His first was Bopedro, a horse with a quirky personality and a connection to Rutter’s Breton roots — even sharing his birthday. Now, his stable has grown, with French trainer David Menuisier overseeing several of his thoroughbreds. “We can talk about horses for hours,” Menuisier says. “He’s not like other owners — he understands this world and cares deeply.”Rutter came off injured during Brighton’s FA Cup quarter-final clash against Nottingham Forest, with fears that he could miss the rest of the remaining Premier League campaign. The Frenchman says that horses, along with music and fishing, have given him balance in the often high-pressure world of football. “At 18 or 19, I didn’t think I’d cope with it all,” he admits. “But since I’ve had horses, I feel calmer.”“Some people will always judge,” he says with a smile. “But I live like I’m not a footballer. I live for what I love,” finished the Albion player.GFFN | George Boxall