Bundesliga
Bayer Leverkusen will become the first Bundesliga club to stage a pre-season tour in South America when they visit the Brazilian metropolis of Rio de Janeiro from 14 to 24 July 2025.
Under the motto 'Esquenta!' ('warm up'), Leverkusen will prepare for the new campaign at Flamengo's 'Ninho do Urubu' (Eagle's Nest) training facility in the Vargem Grande neighbourhood. Various media engagements and a high-profile friendly match are also part of the 2023/24 double winners' plans, alongside further activities involving Bayer's team of Brazilian legends.
"We are very much looking forward to an intensive start to our preparations in an exciting and completely new environment," said Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes. "The climate at this time of year is ideal and the training conditions at Flamengo's performance centre are excellent. What's more, the passion for football in this country is unrivalled and inspiring - it should help us recharge our batteries for the upcoming Bundesliga season."
Leverkusen have been working fastidiously on building their Brazilian connection in recent years. Die Werkself visited South America's largest country as part of the 2024 Trophy Tour, before launching Portuguese-language digital channels (Instagram, website, WhatsApp) in May 2025 and announcing the opening of the Bayer 04 Football Academy Sao Paulo. The centre will open in July 2025 and be run by Paulo Sérgio, one of 20 Brazilians to have played for the Rhineland club.
"This preparation period in Brazil will be the initial highlight of our numerous activities in the Brazilian market, a project that is certainly unique in this form in the Bundesliga," explained Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro. "With the trophy tour last year as a prelude, with the new digital channels in the local language, with the football academy set up by club legend Paulo Sérgio and with the training camp, we are further expanding our special connection with this target market."
Watch: Paulo Sérgio in Brazil
Leverkusen's Brazil tour is their first under new head coach Erik ten Hag. The Dutchman replaced Xabi Alonso, who left the BayArena for former club Real Madrid, in May. The 2023/24 Bundesliga champions finished runners-up last season, 13 points behind Bayern Munich. They return to competitive action in the first round of the DFB Cup on 15-18 August, before kicking off their Bundesliga campaign a week later.