The V-Varen youth players not only trained with the Werkself junior squads but also joined them in playing in friendlies. “The first ten minutes were really hard. I think we all needed a moment or two to get used to the high intensity,” said Aoto Nanamure after the joint friendly on the pitch. “But it was really cool to see how much energy all the players showed.”
Before their departure, the Japanese travel group were again able to experience the home game atmosphere at the BayArena with the Bundesliga clash against current champions Bayern Munich. In response to the question of the highlight of the visit to Bayer 04, Nanamure had a categorical response ready: “The BayArena and the matchdays we were able to experience. The atmosphere is simply impressive!”
The Japanese guests came at the right time: The Werkself players had three home games during the visit – and Bayer 04 ran out winners in every game. There were wins against Hertha Berlin (4-1), Ferencvaros (2-0) in the Europa League and Bayern Munich (2-1).
The visitors from the south-west of Japan will not easily forget all of the impressions gathered during their time in the Rhineland. The talented youngsters will remember one thing in particular. Nanamure finished off by saying: “Something we’ve all remembered is the players shaking hands at the end of the game. That’s completely different from back home but is definitely something that we will remember.”
The partnership:
V-Varen Nagasaki has been a partner club of Bayer 04 in youth development since the 2017/18 season. Since then there has been an intensive exchange between the clubs on both a sporting and a cultural level. A delegation of twelve, made up of youth players Aoto Nanamure, Homare Ikeda, Kelshin Mlyazaki, Yuya Iwamoto, Kaihi Nishimura, Hinata Miyazaki plus the coaches and staff members Ikebe Tomokazu, Harada Takeo, Yusuke Maeda, Tokunaga Takahiro and Matsushita Toshihiro, visited Leverkusen from 1 to 20 March.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have agreed Kerim Alajbegovic’s transfer to Italian record champions Juventus. The club brought the 18-year-old attacking player back to Leverkusen this summer via a buy-back option, following a season at Red Bull Salzburg. Until his move to Austria, the Bosnia international had been playing for Bayer 04’s Under-19s.
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With 22 days to go until the start of the Bundesliga campaign, the Bayer 04 Women’s team have gained a fresh boost of confidence. In a friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk on Saturday afternoon, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team secured a 1–0 win. Lobke Loonen (20’) scored the winner for the Black and Reds at the Kurtekotten training centre.
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of the 3-0 victory in the friendly match against Rot-Weiss Essen...
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without Kennet Eichhorn for the time being. Following specialist medical examinations, the new signing from Berlin has been diagnosed with a metabolic disorder requiring treatment. This was preceded by excessive physical strain and weight loss, partly as a result of a gastrointestinal condition.
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A successful fourth preseason friendly ahead of the start of the training camp: The Werkself secured a 3-0 victory over Rot-Weiss Essen at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The goals in what was a commanding and dominant performance by Leverkusen from the outset were scored by Ibrahim Maza (8'), Patrik Schick from the penalty spot (23’) and, in the second half, Montrell Culbreath with a header (79’). The team set off for their training camp in Blankenhain in the Weimarer Land region after the game.
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