Bundesliga news: New Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso gives Nadiem Amiri a fresh start
- Heinrich Griessel
- 1 December 2022
Bayer Leverkusen are eager to hold on to midfielder Nadiem Amiri, following the appointment of new head coach Xabi Alonso.
The 26-year-old was barely used under previous Leverkusen boss Gerardo Seoane, who did not give him any Bundesliga starts but instead utilised him exclusively as a bench player.
This led to speculation linking Amiri to January moves elsewhere.
However, Liverpool legend Alonso seems to rate the former Hoffenheim man more highly, and has consequently handed him three starts in their last six league fixtures.
This development has convinced Leverkusen to hold on to the German, while Alonso settles into his new job.
"Unlike last summer, it's not an urgent topic for us," Leverkusen's managing director of sport Simon Rolfes said in an interview with Kicker.
"With the way he has presented himself with commitment and bite in training and in games too, he is an important part of the team."
Die Werkself are on a three-game winning streak in the Bundesliga, after beating Union Berlin, FC Koln, and VfB Stuttgart in November.
