Yahoo Sports Garcia and Co: New Bayer Leverkusen signings must improve in 2025
Aleix Garcia, Martin Terrier and Nordi Mukiele struggled in their early months at Bayer Leverkusen, but each have slowly improved in the run-in towards the winter break and must continue to develop in 2025 if Xabi Alonso’s side are to push Bayern Munich.
After just four wins in their opening 10 Bundesliga games this season, a run which included five draws, Bayer 04 improved after the November international break, winning five successive league games to end the year four points behind Bayern Munich.
Terrier, Mukiele and Jeanuël Belocian each struggled with injuries but the former two ended the year strongly, while Garcia hasn’t lived up to his potential and, per BILD, the quartet must now deliver.
Simon Rolfes calls for more
Speaking during the November international break, Bayer sporting director Simon Rolfes said: “It sometimes isn’t easy for new players to get into an existing team. We have great confidence in our new signings, but they also need to show more of themselves. On the other hand, they need to be integrated even better.”
Garcia has a difficult task ahead
With the returning Exequiel Palacios, Aleix Garcia arguably has the toughest task of the four players, fighting the Argentine and Robert Andrich for a place alongside Granit Xhaka. Undeterred by the lack of minutes, the Spaniard spoke in November, vowing to fight for his position in the team: “It’s definitely a tough moment for me, but I will fight to play more games.”
