Xabi Alonso caught many by surprise when he announced his decision to stay at Bayer Leverkusen beyond the end of the season. The Spaniard had been strongly linked with Bayern Munich and Liverpool, both of whom will appoint new managers this summer, but he opted to stay put. There is, after all, much more for him to achieve at the BayArena.
Last weekend saw Leverkusen clinch the championship. It was the first Bundesliga title in the club’s 119-year history and erased the ‘Bayer Neverkusen’ tag that had become a defining element of the Black and Reds’ identity. Alonso and his players will forever be considered Leverkusen legends.
This season could get even better. Bayer Leverkusen are chasing an unbeaten season in the Bundesliga having gone 29 league matches without suffering a single defeat. On top of this, they are in the final of the DFB Pokal and have one foot in the semi-finals of the Europa League following a 2-0 first leg victory over West Ham.
Of all the things Bayer Leverkusen are still targeting this season, the latter could be most profound. The club lifted the UEFA Cup back in 1988 and reached the final of the Champions League in 2002, when they lost to a Zinedine Zidane-inspired Real Madrid at Hampden Park. A continental trophy in 2024 would rank among its greatest-ever achievements.
It could also lead to Leverkusen making a run in the Champions League next season. They have already secured their place in European soccer’s most prestigious club competition by winning the Bundesliga and there’s no reason to believe Alonso’s team can’t make their mark against the very best on the continent.
Bayer Leverkusen will face a fight to keep hold of their best players this summer. Florian Wirtz is a generational German talent who has earned a reputation as one of the best attacking midfielders in the sport. It wouldn’t be surprising if there was interest from a number of elite level clubs at the end of the season. Bayern Munich have been linked in the past, and usually come knocking when a talented German sprouts up at another Bundesliga club.
Jeremie Frimpong has enjoyed an exceptional season at right wing back for Leverkusen, contributing eight goals and seven assists in the Bundesliga. The Netherlands international is reportedly on the radar of several clubs around Europe with Manchester United and Real Madrid linked in the past.
Piero Hincapie is another played who could be the subject of interest this summer. Tottenham Hotspur have a long-standing interest in the Ecuadorian who at 22 years old still has time to improve further. At 28 years old, Jonathan Tah might feel now is the right time for him to seek a new challenge away from Leverkusen having spent his entire career in the Bundesliga.
Then there’s Victor Boniface, the Nigerian striker who has given Leverkusen physicality and cutting edge in front of goal since joining from Union Saint-Gilloise last summer. Top level number nines are difficult to find and it wouldn’t be surprising if Boniface is being monitored by the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United, all of whom could use a frontman of his quality.
If Bayer Leverkusen can keep the bulk of their core group of players together, they stand a good chance of success in the Champions League next season. With an increased transfer budget, the opportunity will be there for the newly-crowned Bundesliga champions to strengthen their squad further.
This is perhaps what Alonso had in his mind when he made the call to reject Bayern Munich and Liverpool. Winning the Bundesliga title was the culmination of one thing, but it could mark the start of something else. Look at Jurgen Klopp’s time at Borussia Dortmund – Bundesliga glory ultimately led to an appearance in a Champions League final.
Alonso has a long career at the top of management to look forward to and so there’s no need for him to rush to a decision on his next move. There is much more for him to achieve at Bayer Leverkusen, a club the former midfielder has already moulded in his own image. There could be more scenes like the ones we saw at the BayArena on Sunday.
