Erik ten Hag tested his football as Bayer Leverkuksen coach against a Brazilian U20 team – and was run over in terms of results. This, of course, the former Manchester United coach shook off and blamed it on the fact that it was “just a friendly match”. With Xabi Alonso’s key players Wirtz, Frimpong and Tah gone, while Granit Xhaka is working towards exit, Ten Hag is facing a build-up phase. The activity on the transfer market also shows that Leverkusen are not aiming for “more of the same”, but are building up a squad with very exciting young players. On Sunday, the next big talent came from the ball island.
Leverkusen signed 22-year-old Jarell Quansah from Liverpool earlier this month, now follows an academy player from Manchester City.
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The Bundesliga’s second-best club has signed 19-year-old Farid Alfa-Ruprecht, it is reported on Leverkusen’s website. A signing the sporting director is clearly pleased with.
– Farid Alfa-Ruprecht has caused a stir as a winger in the English U21 league. Strong goal statistics, tremendous speed and great football talent make him an extremely interesting addition to our first-team squad,” says sporting director Simon Rolfes.
The German winger with Ghanaian roots was born in Hamburg and moved from HSV’s academy to City three years ago, now he is brought back to German football.
The 19-year-old leaves City with 8 goals in 21 U21 appearances, but without a call-up to Guardiola’s first team. The opportunity for this with Ten Hag is now open.
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