Amine Adli Praises Flamengo Facilities as Bayer Leverkusen Trains in Rio for Preseason Clash

German champions prepare to face Flamengo U20 in friendly match this Friday

Bayer Leverkusen has officially kicked off its preseason with a stop in Rio de Janeiro, where the Bundesliga champions are training at Flamengo’s renowned George Helal Training Center ahead of a friendly match against Flamengo’s U20 team.

The match is scheduled for Friday, July 18, at the Gávea Stadium, with limited fan attendance. It marks the start of Leverkusen’s preseason under manager Erik ten Hag, who recently took charge of the German club after leaving Manchester United.

“I Was Surprised”: Adli Impressed by Flamengo’s Structure

Leverkusen forward Amine Adli expressed admiration for the quality of Flamengo’s facilities in an interview this week. The French-Moroccan striker praised the club’s infrastructure and training conditions, calling them “incredible.”

“I’m very surprised. The facilities are very good. It’s incredible to train in this environment,” said Adli, visibly impressed with the Rio-based club’s resources.

He added:

“The pitches are good. I think the club has a very good structure. And it doesn’t surprise me, since Brazil is the country of football. I’m very happy to be here.”

Flamengo U20 to Test European Opponents

Despite being a youth squad, Flamengo’s U20 side comes into the match as current world champions at the youth level, offering a competitive test for the German senior team. The friendly is part of Leverkusen’s broader preparation ahead of the new Bundesliga season and upcoming UEFA competitions.

The training sessions at Ninho do Urubu reflect a growing tradition of top European clubs opting for Brazilian facilities, drawn by the country’s footballing heritage and high-quality infrastructure.