Bayer Leverkusen has been enjoying a highly successful season thus far. Under the guidance of Xabi Alonso, the team has adopted a well-defined playing style, and the many new additions have seamlessly integrated, making a significant impact. Amid the buzz surrounding Victor Boniface, Jonas Hofmann, and Granit Xhaka, Alejandro Grimaldo has garnered comparatively less attention, which may be an oversight.
Leroy Sané's reaction to Alejandro Grimaldo's free kick spoke volumes.
When the Spaniard in the service of Bayer Leverkusen stroked the ball over the Bayern wall and into the corner, the Munich attacker fluttered his hand in appreciation. In the end, the German record champions drew 2-2 in front of their home crowd with the Werkself, who had lived up to their early praise as the supposedly worst FCB rivals this season.
After seven match days, the Rhinelanders lead the Bundesliga table, with perennial dominator Bayern two points behind in third place. The fact that Bayer 04 has just celebrated the best start to a season in the club's history and is receiving effusive praise from all sides is no coincidence: coach Xabi Alonso got involved in terms of transfers in the summer, putting together a first-class squad together with sports director Simon Rolfes.
With Granit Xhaka (FC Arsenal), Jonas Hofmann (Borussia Mönchengladbach), well-known and experienced players came under the Bayer cross, and Leverkusen also signed the promising kickers Victor Boniface (Saint-Gilloise), Arthur (América) and Nathan Tella (FC Southampton). And the aforementioned free-kick artist Grimaldo from the Portuguese top club Benfica - even on a free transfer.
GRIMALDO WITH NEXT DREAM FREE KICK
Grimaldo proved that his goal in Munich was no coincidence a few weeks later at Mainz 05, when he once again put a free kick into the box. But Grimaldo is much more than a standard specialist.
As a left-sided track player, the Spaniard is predestined for Alonso's 3-4-2-1 system. Time and again, Grimaldo initiates dangerous attacks from the flanks, sometimes moving into the center and becoming an essential part of Leverkusen's passing machinery. In addition to the goals he has already scored, the former Lisbon man has already contributed five assists in competitive matches. A record for Bayer.
In the unchallenged 3-0 win over neighboring Cologne, Grimaldo played a decisive role in two of the three goals - and played his way into the hearts of the Bayer fans with his outstanding derby performance at the latest: "The atmosphere was incredible! Especially when we entered the pitch," Grimaldo enthused afterwards. "It was comparable to the city duels in Lisbon that I experienced with Benfica against Sporting." Grimaldo obviously knows how to win over his own supporters, and not just on the pitch.
Basically, he said, he was sure "before the first game" that Leverkusen had a good team. "With the other new additions, those responsible at the club have also fulfilled their promise from my contract talks in May to further strengthen the squad," Grimaldo said during a media roundtable. In addition to the other high-quality additions, Alonso's charisma was the main reason for the move to Germany.
"In fact, there were several offers on the table, from different countries," Grimaldo revealed shortly after his arrival in the color city. "But in the end, Xabi Alonso was the most important factor that tipped the scales in favor of Leverkusen. I wanted to be coached by him."
The appreciation is mutual; Alonso is a huge fan of his new winger, who was trained in FC Barcelona's famous youth department. "Players like Alejandro Grimaldo have significantly improved our quality of play," praised the World and European champion.
"He has that quality of playing the last pass, can shoot good free kicks and is very professional." That Grimaldo has impressive skills is not new: For eight years he was one of the absolute top performers at Benfica, also made a name for himself in the Champions League.
GRIMALDO AWAITS SPAIN DEBUT
All the more surprising, then, that he has not yet received a single nomination for the Spanish senior national team. A circumstance that Alonso recently took as an opportunity to give Spain coach Luis de la Fuente a recommendation. "Why he hasn't played for Spain yet, I can't explain," Alonso said of his compatriot. "Grimaldo would totally deserve to be invited. He's been playing great for us and also for Benfica in the past few years."
But Grimaldo again waited in vain for a call-up to the Furia Roja ahead of the current international break. "He is again not in the Spanish squad. Unfortunately," said the disappointed Alonso. Rolfes added: "I don't know if they're all that good (at Spain, ed.). Either way, for me he's a player who has to be a national player - even with a top nation."
Grimaldo himself, meanwhile, is combative: "A few years ago, I probably would have been mad about it," he said. "Now it's not like that - on the contrary, it motivates me even more. I'll keep working and then maybe it will work out someday."
If Grimaldo maintains these outstanding performances, de la Fuente will have no choice but to acknowledge his capabilities. In Leverkusen, they are fully aware of the potential he brings as a newcomer. Grimaldo has emerged as an unsung hero in a team that is operating at a high level, and his contributions go beyond just his exceptional free-kick abilities.
The above is about The《Bayer Leverkusen's Grimaldo Signing Shakes Up Bundesliga in Xabi Alonso's Transfer Coup》, and finally, I would like to recommend you a pair of shoes cheap adidas ultra boost brasil.
