When Kerem Demirbay came from 1899 Hoffenheim in 2019, the highest expectations were attached to him. There are reasons why Leverkusen’s record purchases were never able to meet this goal in the long term.
He was never happy in Leverkusen: Kerem Demirbay. imago images
His farewell was very quiet. In the training camp in Saalfelden, Austria, Kerem Demirbay was only a marginal figure from a purely sporting point of view. Due to an ankle injury, the midfielder did not take part in team training. However, the 30-year-old worked so hard in the team hotel’s fitness area that even internal observers assumed that Demirbay was not pausing because of an injury, but because his move to Galatasaray Istanbul should no longer be endangered.
This one has been perfect since Thursday. Leverkusen and his record purchase ended the misunderstanding – for a fraction of the 32 million euros that were once paid. The Turkish top club, which is listed on the stock exchange, pays a fixed fee of almost four million euros for Demirbay, whose contract in Leverkusen ran until 2024. Bonuses can increase the total package to just over six million euros.
The transfer ends a big misunderstanding. The strategist in the Bayer jersey never consistently demonstrated his class as a player like he had done so impressively before at 1899 Hoffenheim. Looking back on his four years in Leverkusen, one of the most creative Bundesliga professionals, who made his debut in the German national team (two appearances, one goal) and won the Confed Cup with the DFB team in 2017, has become one of his immense playful potential only hinted at in bits and pieces.
End of September 2022: “Winners in the crisis”
This was also the case last season, when he scored once on each of the 5th and 7th matchdays – the best goal streak that the now 30-year-old put on in a Bayer shirt. “Winner in the crisis” was what kicker called him at the end of September 2022. The coach at the time, Gerardo Seoane, praised him for taking on leadership and responsibility.
But somehow indicative of Demirbay’s time at Bayer: Despite his three goals, he was substituted in all three games – partly after good performances. When Xabi Alonso became the new Werkself coach after Seoane’s dismissal at the beginning of October, the standard specialist, who was never undisputed at Leverkusen, lost more and more of his status. In 2023 Demirbay was only in ten of 27 Leverkusen competitive games in the starting line-up and was substituted on six times.
Demirbay also got off to a promising start in the 2021/22 season: After seven league games, he had an average grade of 2.57. At the end of the season, this was 3.42. A season earlier, it had even reached its all-time low of 3.81. The left foot had earned a grade better than 3.5 in four league games – far too little from the club’s point of view.
He once brought Demirbay as a difference player and perspective successor for former top performers such as Julian Brandt (moved to BVB in 2019), Kai Havertz (went to Chelsea in 2020) and Charles Aranguiz (returned to Internacional Porto Alegre in 2023). But as different as these three types of players were, the search for Demirbay’s permanent role at the Werkself was just as unsuccessful.
He was never allowed to be a “freelance artist” permanently
As a 10, the outstanding passer often seemed positioned too far forward in his ability to steer the game. On the one hand, his defensive weaknesses came into play on the double six, and on the other hand, this position was dominated by other professionals such as Aranguiz and later Robert Andrich.
Most importantly, however, the role of “freelance artist” as eighth, which he held at 1899 Hoffenheim, never fell to him permanently. Which was also due to the fact that in the Bayer game, first with Havertz and later with Florian Wirtz, two young high-flyers and absolute exceptional talents became the linchpin – the part that was actually intended for Demirbay.
But even his debut season in Leverkusen was sluggish. He did get his first assist on Matchday 2 in a 3-1 win in Düsseldorf, but he had to wait until Matchday 26 for his first Bundesliga goal for the Werkself: On May 18th, in the Weser Stadium, which was empty due to the pandemic, he delivered his best game of the season . With one goal and one assist in the game, Wirtz made his pro debut as a right winger and Havertz came on as a center forward instead of a ten for the injured Kevin Volland…
The image of Demirbay, who mostly appeared very, even too self-confident in the media, was a much better one within the team. Goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky praised him via “Bild” as a team player and leader: “Kerem has always held our team together,” said the Werkself captain before leaving, “he’s a model professional.”
Now Demirbay, the son of Turkish parents born in Herford, is trying his luck on the Bosporus. After 149 competitive games with a total of 15 goals and 30 assists for Bayer 04. He is moving to Galatasaray amid the inevitable media noise, but not as a new top star. Rather, he starts in Istanbul in the role of the challenger.
Will Demirbay prevail in Istanbul?
At Bayer, he no longer saw any prospects in view of Andrich and Exequiel Palacios, who were more popular with Xabi Alonso, and Granit Xhaka, who joined summer. But in Istanbul he also has to assert himself against established forces like Nicolo Zaniolo, Sergio Oliveira or Lucas Torreira, who form the center of midfield in the 4-2-3-1 system.
The fact that Demirbay does not burden Galatasaray’s foreign contingent in the Süper Lig was a significant argument for the club to sign. Unlike in Leverkusen in 2019, miracles are not expected of him on the Bosporus. Maybe he’ll be able to do this regularly for his new club – and not just one or the other gala.
2023-08-03 17:48:20
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