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."
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.
With sixth place at the end of the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign, Bayer 04 ended a season in the top third of the table for the ninth time in a row. While the Werkself were narrowly eliminated in the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 by eventual finalists Arsenal, the Black and Reds reached the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal for the third season in succession. As in previous years, you once again have the opportunity to vote for your Player of the Season. Voting is exclusively for Bayer 04 Club members and only via the Bayer 04 app up to and including 11 June.
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With 46 points in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga, the Bayer 04 Women’s team once again broke the previous season's club record and ended up in fifth place - 15 wins is also a record. As in previous years, you now have the opportunity to vote for your Player of the Season. Voting is open exclusively to Bayer 04 Club members and only via the Bayer 04 app by 11 June.
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The guests at the Scala Club in Leverkusen were amazed when host Reiner Calmund suddenly brought the Managing Director of Sport at Bayer 04, Simon Rolfes, and record Werkself appearance maker Rüdiger Vollborn onto the stage. As part of the show "An Evening with Football & Friends", organised by long-serving Bayer 04 managing director and general manager Calmund, the two surprise guests drew plenty of applause - and provided great entertainment in exciting conversations about the past and future.
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Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
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