The Rise of Alejandro Grimaldo: Leverkusen’s Secret Hero

Leroy Sané’s reaction to Alejandro Grimaldo’s free kick spoke volumes.

When the Spaniard, playing for Bayer Leverkusen, stroked the ball over the Bayern wall into the corner, the Munich offensive man flicked his hand in recognition. 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 praise as supposedly FCB’s worst rivals this season.

After seven match days, the Rhinelanders are leading the Bundesliga table, with long-term dominant Bayern in third place, two points behind. It is no coincidence that Bayer 04 recently celebrated the best start to the season in the club’s history and is receiving exuberant praise from all sides: coach Xabi Alonso got involved in terms of transfers in the summer and put together a first-class squad together with sports director Simon Rolfes.

Grimaldo with the next dream free kick

A few weeks later at Mainz 05, Grimaldo proved that his goal in Munich was no coincidence by once again putting a dead ball in the box. But Grimaldo is much more than a standard specialist.

As a left-wing player, the Spaniard is predestined for Alonso’s 3-4-2-1 system. Grimaldo repeatedly initiates dangerous attacks from the wing, sometimes moving into the center and becoming an essential part of Leverkusen’s passing machine. In addition to the goals he has already outlined, the former Lisbon player has already contributed five assists in competitive games. Top value at Bayer.

In the comfortable 3-0 win against their neighbors from Cologne, Grimaldo played a decisive role in two of three goals – and played his way into the hearts of Bayer fans with his outstanding derby performance: “The atmosphere was unbelievable! Especially when we arrived,” Grimaldo enthused afterwards. “It was comparable to the city duels in Lisbon that I experienced with Benfica against Sporting.” Grimaldo obviously doesn’t just know how to win over his own followers on the field.

Basically, 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 implemented their promise from my contract talks in May to further strengthen the squad,” said Grimaldo during a media round. In addition to the other high-quality newcomers, Alonso’s charisma was the decisive factor in the move to Germany.

“In fact, there were several offers on the table from different countries,” revealed Grimaldo shortly after his arrival in the city of colors. “But ultimately, Xabi Alonso was the most important factor that made the difference for Leverkusen. I wanted to be coached by him.”

Get along well: Xabi Alonso (l.) and Alejandro Grimaldo

Photo credit: Image

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 making the final pass, can take good free kicks and is very professional.” It is not new that Grimaldo has impressive skills: for eight years he was one of the top performers at Benfica and also made a name for himself in the Champions League.

Grimaldo is waiting for his Spanish debut

It is all the more astonishing that he has not received a single nomination for the Spanish senior national team to date. A circumstance that Alonso recently took as an opportunity to make a recommendation to Spain coach Luis de la Fuente. “I can’t explain why he hasn’t played for Spain yet,” Alonso said of his compatriot. “Grimaldo would totally deserve it if he were invited. He plays great for us and also in recent years at Benfica.”

But Grimaldo waited in vain for a call-up to Furia Roja in the run-up to the current international break. “He’s not in the Spanish squad again. Unfortunately,” said the disappointed Alonso. Rolfes added: “I don’t know if they are all that good (at Spain, editor). Either way, for me he is a player who has to be a national team player – even for a top nation.”

Grimaldo himself is combative: “A few years ago I would probably have been angry about it,” he said. “Now it’s no longer like that – on the contrary: it motivates me even more. I’ll keep working and then maybe it will work at some point.”

If Grimaldo continues to deliver anything like this, de la Fuente will not be able to avoid him. In any case, at Leverkusen they know what they have in their new guy, Grimaldo is the secret hero in a team that is currently functioning. Not just because of his picture-perfect free kicks.

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2023-10-15 21:08:46
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