
A reception at the German – Brazilian Chamber of Foreign Trade in the city centre of São Paulo was the first event of the day. Different members of the German – Brazilian business community attended to hear one or two anecdotes from the historic double winning season of 2023/24 first hand from Simon Rolfes, sporting managing director at Bayer 04, and Kim Falkenberg, head of recruitment at Bayer 04. The event was hosted by Katharina Gerlitz, coordinator for market entry and business development at the foreign trade chamber.






That was followed by a very special visit: Bayer 04, in partnership with the Plastiks company, opened a new green mining recycling station in São Paulo. Bayer 04 legend Paulo Sergio made the one-hour journey to Embu das Artes, a municipality to the south of São Paulo, to experience first-hand how the waste collection point works. On site he spoke in depth to young people about the subject of sustainability.
The visit to the recycling plant was the official launch of a joint project. Plastiks is a sustainable organisation that is committed worldwide to the reuse of waste and against waste pollution. As part of this cooperation, Bayer 04 is working with the green mining organisation in São Paulo, the most populous city in South America and hometown to club legend Sergio, where the waste recycling rate is currently only around 3%. You can find out more HERE.





Rolfes and Falkenberg had a little time for a sightseeing tour through the city – with the walk including São Paulo's famous area of Beco de Batman (Batman Alley), which is primarily known for its artistic wall paintings. A must during the walk: The Meisterschale.
Holger Tromp, communications director at Bayer 04, summed up the eventful day as follows: "Today was a great opportunity for us to make contact with a large number of the members of the community of São Paulo – whether that was the business people from the foreign trade chamber, with employees at the green mining station or simply with football fans everywhere here during our events." Tromp added: "This link should be durable to further strengthen our link to the Brazilian market and the country over the long term."





The third day in the melting pot of Brazil starts with a number of media events followed by a visit to a school. The day will be rounded off with a premiere of the Bayer 04 documentary 'A Dream Comes True' that is being broadcast in Brazil for the first time in the evening in cooperation with TV Globo to over 1,000 people at the Goethe Institute.

Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and Bayer 04 loanee Francis Onyeka are part of Germany's final squad for the U19 European Championships this summer. The tournament is in Wales from 24 June to 12 July.
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When Malik Tillman arrived at Bayer 04 Leverkusen from PSV Eindhoven last summer, he did more than just add attacking midfield strength to the team — he reconnected the club with a unique and understated American lineage that stretches back more than three decades.
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Bayer 04 are away to third-division club SV Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal. That was the outcome of the draw on Saturday night, 6 June, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund. The Werkself first round tie will be played between 21 and 24 August. The exact date has yet to be finalised.
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Carles Martìnez is raring to go. The 42-year-old speaks in his first interview in Leverkusen about the club's development to date and how he wants to build on it. He describes his previous work in France, Kuwait, Qatar and his native Barcelona, his experience in developing young players, and the key steps between now and the start of pre-season training.
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Bayer 04 plans for the 2026/27 pre-season continue to take shape. The Werkself will kick off the new season in mid-July with the return to the training ground. The highlight will be the official season opener on 8 August at the BayArena, including a friendly against La Liga club Sevilla. Friendlies in Germany will take the team to neighbouring Monheim, Offenbach and Jena.
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