…his substitution due to injury in the home game against SC Freiburg (1-2): Fortunately, I haven't got any major pain. It's not serious. It will all be back to normal in a couple of days.
…the moment he first heard Bayer 04 were interested in him: I was shocked. (He laughs) I came from nowhere and didn't even have 18 months of professional football behind me. And now I'm here and I can play for a top club in the Bundesliga. It feels great!
…the reasons for his move to Leverkusen: The Bundesliga is one of the best leagues in the world and is a great challenge for me. This move to Bayer 04 is exactly right for my development. The management at Leverkusen have lots of confidence in young players as we've seen so often in the past.
…his start at Bayer 04 and targets with the Werkself: It was very exciting for me to move to Germany. I've settled in now and I’m enjoying it here. Of course, the results on the pitch have been disappointing. But we are responsible for that ourselves and we're aware of it. We have to look forwards and work our way back game by game. The target in the Bundesliga is and remains qualification for the Champions League and that means finishing in the top four. That's what we’re aiming for.
…clashes with top strikers such as World Player of the Year Robert Lewandowski or Erling Haaland: I always want to play against the best players in the world and show what I can do. I work hard on my game every day and I’m benefiting from the high level in training.
…the importance of Neil Lennon who gave him his first chances as a professional footballer at Celtic following his move from the Manchester City EDS team in the autumn of 2019: I was surprised when I heard about his resignation a few days ago. He's a great personality and has always given everything for the club. I will always have a special memory of him because he gave me my first chance in professional football. He supported me and gave me advice. I'll always be grateful to him for that.
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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To mark Exequiel Palacios’s departure, we’ve put together a compilation of the midfielder’s finest and most important goals from his six-and-a-half years at the club.
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