Jankto Outing: That’s what Nagelsmann says
Jakub Jankto came out as gay on Monday © Imago
Czech national player Jakub Jankto publishes an emotional video in which he comes out as gay. The Sparta Prague pro “doesn’t want to hide any longer”.
Jakub Jankto, professional at Sparta Prague and national player of the Czech Republic, has come out in an emotional statement.
“I’m gay and I don’t want to hide anymore,” revealed the 27-year-old, who is on loan to Prague from Getafe FC, in a video on social media.
Jankto declared that he wanted to live his life “in freedom, without fear, without prejudice, without violence, but with love”.
With his statement, the Czech also wants to persuade other people to come out. “The purpose of this video is to encourage others,” the clip says at the end.
A day before the Champions League cracker at Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern coach Julian Nagelsmann commented on Jankto’s coming out.
Nagelsmann: “I’m glad he did it”
“I consider it brave, but I think it’s a shame that we’re talking about it being brave,” said Nagelsmann. “It should actually be normal. I try to put myself in the shoes of people who might not want to say that for years because of the pressure on them. I believe this is not a comfortable life and it can be very depressing.”
The FCB coach continued: “For a person it is an extreme burden to have to deal with this pressure, not to be allowed to come out and to always have a game of hide and seek. I’m glad he did that because now he can live a much more comfortable life – I hope for him.”
So far, only a few footballers have made their homosexuality public. In 2021, Adelaide United midfielder Josh Cavallo became the first active professional footballer to come out in the Australian A-League.
However, Jankto has often been a mainstay in the Czech national team in recent years. The left midfielder has already played 45 international matches in which he scored four goals. He was last used on June 5th in the Nations League against Spain.
