BAYER’S BAILEY HAS BIG DREAMS
Bundesliga for now, Premier League later for Leon of Lev erk us en
TWENTY-YEAR-old Leon Bailey is the man of the moment in the German Bundesliga, delivering magic goals and radiating a contagious joy.
The Bundesliga’s biggest attraction is promising to stay with his club Bayer Leverkusen until the summer, but admitted to having dreams of Premier League glory.
“I promise to stay with Leverkusen for the rest of the season,” Bailey told the German media after Leverkusen secured second position on the table by beating FSV Mainz 2-0.
Bailey has a contract until 2022 but, according to rumours, the agreement contains exit clauses.
Though his commitment might please Leverkusen manager Heiko Herrlich and managing sports director Rudi Voller, they are well aware that the club’s most valuable performer could be on his way to one of the big English clubs as soon as next summer.
“It is no secret, I am dreaming of the Premier League. But at the moment it is great fun to play with a fantastic team in Leverkusen,” Bailey said.
Having scored eight goals and delivered six assists, the Jamaica-born striker is the driving force behind the side’s current success.
Bailey is creating a buzz in Leverkusen, the likes of which the club has not had for many years.
In 2002, fans saw Leverkusen challenge Spanish giants Real Madrid in the Champions League final only to lose out to a stunning Zinedine Zidane volley.
Leverkusen have only won one German title in the club’s history, the German Cup in 1993 earning the club the unenviable nickname of “Neverkusen.”
In 2002 the club not only lost the Champions League final but also gambled away the Bundesliga title and the German Cup.
At the end of the 2017/18 Bundesliga season, Leverkusen most likely won’t have won their first league title but fans can sense something important is happening.
“We feel something big is growing, a great team is developing,” striker Julian Brandt said.
The German international said the team depend on Bailey’s inspiration as “he is worth his weight in gold for us”.
Enthusiasm among fans is also reaching fever pitch as supporters after games not only ask for Bailey’s shirt but are holding up banners asking for his socks.
Bailey joined Leverkusen in the last winter break for 13.5 million from Belgian side KRC Genk having made his debut in the first team in 2015. He was voted as the best youngster that year. In his second year, he scored seven goals in 12 games in the Europa League.
“We are aware he is attracting interest from bigger clubs when he is continuously performing on such a high level,” said Leverkusen managing director Jonas Boldt.
Boldt says the striker is a gifted youngster with a perfect blend of speed and courage and always going for man-to-man duels.
Bailey grew up in one of Kingston’s poor districts. With his brother Kyle, he was brought to Europe at the age of 14.
Genk officials managed to find a school for them, but things didn’t always go smoothly and there are reports that Bailey disappeared for two years before returning to Genk.
But the dark days have disappeared at Leverkusen.
“We might get offers for him but we don’t intend to think about his departure next summer,” Voller said.
“We will give (our) all to convince him to stay and be part of the great team spirit developing,” Voller added.