Newly crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen have revealed their plans to conduct part of their pre-season preparations in Brazil. The club confirmed on Friday, July 6th, that their upcoming trip will take place in Rio de Janeiro.
Leverkusen, who secured the Bundesliga title in the 2023/24 season, stated their intention to play a friendly match during their visit, which is scheduled to run from July 14th to July 24th. The specifics of the match, including the exact date, location, and opponent, have not yet been disclosed. However, the club`s statement mentioned they plan to face a “top-level opponent.”
While in Rio de Janeiro, the Leverkusen squad is set to train at Ninho do Urubu, the modern training complex utilized by Flamengo.
This excursion marks a significant moment, as it will be the first time a Bundesliga team has held its pre-season training in South America.
The club also indicated that former Brazilian players who have previously worn the Leverkusen jersey are expected to participate in various activities during the team`s stay in Rio. Since 1987, over 20 Brazilians have played for Leverkusen, a list that includes notable names such as Paulo Sérgio, Emerson, Lúcio, Jorginho, Zé Roberto, Wendell, Juan, and Renato Augusto. Currently, full-back Arthur is the sole Brazilian-born player in the active Leverkusen squad.
Leverkusen`s journey follows closely after another Bundesliga side, RB Leipzig, also visited Brazil recently. In late May, Leipzig was in São Paulo shortly after the conclusion of their season. Their visit involved engaging with the press and local community, alongside playing a friendly match against Santos FC. Leipzig, like Leverkusen plans to, utilized the facilities of a local club, benefiting from the infrastructure at Red Bull Bragantino due to shared ownership.
