Leverkusen's Modrić pulling the strings

Rumours circulated during the summer that the much-travelled Spaniard could be about to depart the BayArena for a new adventure elsewhere. Having joined the Werkself from Girona FC in June 2024, García initially struggled to nail down a starting berth during his maiden campaign under former boss Xabi Alonso.

However, following the arrival of Kasper Hjulmand to the coaching hotseat in September 2025, along with the previous departures of Granit Xhaka and Florian Wirtz and an injury to Exequiel Palacios, the Catalan has emerged as a fundamental part of a revamped Leverkusen, making 11 starts in 12 Bundesliga games so far this season.

Now one of the first names on Bayer 04's team sheet, García is even eyeing a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico, having recently enjoyed his very first start for La Roja. 

Playing in a deeper role under Danish tactician Hjulmand, García is excelling in an area of the pitch where Xhaka once did. Shielding the back three as part of a new-look double pivot alongside teenager Ibrahim Maza, the former Manchester City youth is tasked with dictating tempo and starting moves - much like his Swiss predecessor.

In fact, no player has touched the ball more than García in the Bundesliga this term (1,308 times/ 121 touches per 90 minutes). "He’s become better and better since my arrival," said Hjulmand after Bayer 04's 2-0 win against Union Berlin on Matchday 6. "He has great touch and rhythm in his passing, and when he has that rhythm, he's very good. He's a very important player for us," the Bayer coach added. 

Watch: The best of Aleix García in the Bundesliga

García is someone who can distribute the ball under pressure, playing a total of 1,161 passes from open play - the most of any Bundesliga player in 2025/26 - with a 93.88 per cent completion rate. The 28-year-old's passing efficiency (+22.6) is also the highest in the Bundesliga - a metric that was also a Xhaka hallmark during his two seasons at Leverkusen - and he's already chipped in with three assists, one less than his tally over the entire 2024/25 campaign.

Asked recently in an interview with DAZN if he had ever been compared to other players in his position, García mentioned with a smile, "Before, when I had long hair, they sometimes used to call me [Luka] Modrić a bit. With my long passing ability, it’s a bit like - although not quite the same - as Toni Kroos or [Andrea] Pirlo..."

And it’s not just in possession where Bayer's No. 24 produces in-game feats similar to those aforementioned greats. Bayern Munich may be the only team to average more possession than Leverkusen (58 percent) this season, but when the latter lose the ball, García is there. Strong in the challenge, the tenacious midfielder has won 61 percent of his duels, committing just one foul. An engine in midfield, he also averages 7.3 miles (11.8 kilometres) per game.

García has shown he can do it on the UEFA Champions League stage, too, with two goals in Leverkusen’s 7-2 defeat to holders Paris Saint-Germain, and a supremely composed showing in the 2-0 win at former club City. After five rounds of fixtures in European club football's elite competition, he even sits above fellow countrymen Fabián Ruiz (PSG) and Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal) for attempted passes (334) and passing accuracy (90.2 percent).

García's immense versatility another of his major strengths - he once noted, "I can play as a 6 or an 8, push further forward or drift out wide" - his current form has helped him to win an important admirer in Spain coach Luis de la Fuente. 

The one-time Dinamo Bucharest and Eibar (among others) player had picked up seven international caps prior to making a first start and completing 90 minutes for La Roja against Türkiye in a recent 2-2 World Cup qualifying draw that ensured Spain's passage to the finals.   

García now knows that maintaining his Leverkusen form will put him firmly in the picture when the time comes to choosing who will travel with one of the tournament favourites.

"We're showing that we have a great squad with super players," the Spain midfielder said. "The coach is going to have a difficult decision when it comes to the moment (to make his final selection for the World Cup). I was really happy to make my first start (against Turkey) and even more so being surrounded by such (talented players) was a privilege." 

Flourishing in his second season in Germany’s top flight, García's importance to the Leverkusen cause may yet make him equally so at international level on the greatest stage of them all.