Back
15.08.2024Bayer 04

Palacios visits Birkenberg football school

A special visit: Exequiel Palacios called in on the Birkenberg football school on Thursday afternoon. Bayer 04 and the football school organised by SportBund Leverkusen, who staged a training session next to the BayArena on the training ground of SV Leverkusen 2017, enable children taking part to meet up with a Werkself player every year – this time it was a World Cup winner.
Besuch_Palacios_Fusballschule.jpg

The two-time winner of the Copa America, who is currently working on his comeback from injury took time out after rehab on Thursday afternoon to meet the 100 plus children present on the training ground. The inquisitive youngsters posed a host of questions to Palacios at the start. The Argentinian revealed that his best friend in the team is Piero Hincapie. In addition, 25-year-old shared exciting insights into what it feels like playing alongside Lionel Messi: "As a child I always watched him play on television. He was an idol of mine back then," said Palacios about his international teammate and added: "Playing alongside him now is something I could never have dreamt of." 

Autogramme

Selfies, Autographs and more

After all the questions, every request for an autograph was met: Palacios took time out for each child to sign boots or jerseys as well as posing for one or two selfies. The session ended with a communal group photo that included the coaches and support staff. At the end of the visit, Palacios made a young fan particularly happy by presenting him with his new training top – a fitting end to a successful day of training at the football school.

Related News

Autogrammstunde
Bayer 04 - 28.08.2026

Fanwelt event following UEL draw: Autograph session with Culbreath and Sergio

The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.

Show more
Exequiel Palacios
Bayer 04 - 27.08.2026

Exequiel Palacios joins Ipswich Town

After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.

Show more
Exequiel Palacios mit der Meisterschale
Bayer 04 - 27.08.2026

¡Gracias, Pala! – Farewell after six and a half years at Leverkusen

When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.

Show more
Die schönsten Tore von Exequiel Palacios
Werkself-TV - 27.08.2026

Exequiel Palacios' top goals

To mark Exequiel Palacios’s departure, we’ve put together a compilation of the midfielder’s finest and most important goals from his six-and-a-half years at the club.

Show more