In addition to the training sessions on the famous "Ninho do Urubu" campus, a friendly against well-known opposition is also planned (time, venue and further information will follow at a later date). The training camp in the country of the five-time world champions will be flanked by Brazilian Bayer 04 legends, who will be involved in CSR activities, media engagements with the Bundesliga’s Brazilian TV partners, and events with Bayer AG.
"We are very much looking forward to an intensive start to our preparations in an exciting and completely new environment," said Simon Rolfes, Bayer 04 managing director for sport. "The climate at this time of year is ideal and the training conditions at Flamengo's performance centre are excellent. What's more, the passion for football in this country is unrivalled and inspiring - it should help us recharge our batteries for the upcoming Bundesliga season."
"This preparation period in Brazil will be the initial highlight of our numerous activities in the Brazilian market, a project that is certainly unique in this form in the Bundesliga," commented Bayer 04 CEO Fernando Carro. "With the trophy tour last year as a prelude, with the new digital channels in the local language, with the football academy set up by club legend Paulo Sérgio and with the training camp, we are further expanding our special connection with this target market."
Luiz Eduardo Baptista, president of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, added: "We welcome Bayer 04 Leverkusen to us here in Rio de Janeiro. For Flamengo Rio de Janeiro, the visit of Bayer 04 Leverkusen offers an outstanding opportunity to bring together two strong global, black and red football brands who stand for modern and attractive football."
The connections between Bayer 04 and Brazil are extensive and go back many years. 20 players from Brazil have worn the Werkself jersey over the past 40 years including legends like Paulo Sérgio, now an official Bayer 04 club legend, Emerson, Lucio, Jorginho, Zé Roberto, Wendell, Juan and Renato Augusto. Full-back Arthur, a double winner in 2024, is a Brazilian player in the current squad.
In addition, the training camp trip to Brazil is one of numerous activities in this target market. Bayer 04 already visited the largest country in South America as part of the 2024 Trophy Tour and worked closely with Bayer Brazil at the time. In May 2025, Bayer 04 initially launched Portuguese-language digital channels (Instagram, website, WhatsApp) and shortly afterwards announced the opening of its first official football academy in Sao Paulo. The "Bayer 04 Football Academy Sao Paulo" will be managed by club legend Paulo Sérgio and will open its doors at the beginning of July 2025 on the Bayer AG Campus in the metropolis of more than 11 million.
Fans in Brazil can find out all they need to know about the upcoming tour on Bayer 04's Portuguese-language channels:
📸 Instagram: @bayer04_BR
🌐 Website: www.bayer04.de/pt-br
💬 WhatsApp: Bayer 04 Leverkusen Brasil
The Bayer 04 Brazil Tour brought a surprising and emotional reunion of former teammates as current team manager Hans-Peter Lehnhoff met up with some of the club’s Brazilian legends, seeing some of them for the first time in 30 years.
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Day four of the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour is all about the Werkself friendly against the CR Flamengo U20 team. Before the kick-off at the Estádio da Gávea today, Friday, 18 July, at 14:30 local time (19:30 CEST), the Werkself players will warm-up at the team hotel. In addition: A communal evening event with a view of the famous landmark in Rio de Janeiro. Bayer04.de keeps you up-to-date with on the spot reports. Day four blog on the Bayer 04 Brazil Tour (timings in local time).
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The Werkself lost 5-1 against the Flamengo U20 team in the first pre-season friendly ahead of the 2025/26 season. The scorers for the Brazilian team, playing in the middle of their season, were Lorran (3’), an Arthur own goal (11’), Matheus Goncalves (40’), Pedro Leao (45+4’) and Gusttavo (55’). Head coach Erik ten Hag made several substitutions on 30 minutes and he made ten more changes on the hour mark. The Werkself were then more proactive on the pitch with the input from Granit Xhaka, Robert Andrich and Co. bringing significantly more attacking moves that led to a number of chances. Montrell Culbreath netted a consolation strike on 71 minutes for the final score of 5-1.
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A first win in the preseason: In the last friendly before the start of a two-week break in training, the Bayer 04 Women beat top-flight Dutch side Ajax 1-0. In the match played over three 30-minute thirds Vanessa Fudalla scored the goal for the Werkself. In the previous two friendlies this summer, the team led by head coach Roberto Pätzold lost 2-0 two Bundesliga rivals TSG Hoffenheim and drew 1-1 with the Dutch team PEC Zwolle.
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