When he came on as a substitute in Bayer’s 1-1 draw with Hertha BSC, Iker Bravo was Leverkusen’s youngest Bundesliga player for seven minutes. The Spain U-17 international faces a bright future, earning his ex-club FC Barcelona plenty of criticism.
There is one football lesson Iker Bravo learned exceedingly quickly in Berlin on Sunday. Namely, that glory is fleeting. With his 79th-minute substitution, the centre-forward became Leverkusen’s youngest ever Bundesliga player. At 16 years and 298 days, Iker Bravo was 82 days younger than the previous record holder Florian Wirtz (now 18).
But just seven minutes later, the Spanish U-17 international was stripped of his title because coach Gerardo Seoane then also sent Zidan Sertdemir onto the pitch. And the Danish U-17 international was just a little younger than Iker Bravo on Sunday at 16 days and 276 days.
Bravo, Zidan! Even if the duo’s deployment was “born out of necessity”, as Leverkusen’s coach noted, their Bundesliga debut nevertheless demonstrates the high level of talent that both players possess. Both are considered top talents of their age group in their home countries. Both have been called up for the U-19 national teams for the first time for the upcoming international season, although they should still be playing at U-17 level.
Harsh criticism for FC Barcelona
Iker Bravo’s performances for Bayer have already led to recent harsh criticism from the Spanish media for FC Barcelona’s failure to keep hold of the talent who was out of contract last summer.
For that, Iker Bravo did not even have to have played with the professionals. But an artistic overhead kick, with which the Spaniard brilliantly sank the ball with his right foot after a cross from the right half of the field in the U-19 Bundesliga match against Fortuna Düsseldorf, was enough to send the media on the Iberian peninsula into a frenzy. Sport”, for example, reprimanded the FC Barcelona officials for a “serious mistake” after this feat.
Missed shots are the exception
An assessment that holds true despite the attacker’s unfortunate professional debut in the 2-1 DFB Cup defeat to KSC. Although the substitute missed a one-hundred-percent chance against the second-division team and then another good chance, such misses are the exception with Iker Bravo.
Iker Bravo causes a sensation
During the international break in September, the 1.82 metre tall, 75 kilogram attacker had already demonstrated his finishing prowess in training, hitting right up, left down and vice versa with both feet at will like no other Bayer professional. In August, he had caused a sensation in two test matches for Spain’s U17s against France, scoring five of Spain’s eight goals.
“Good finishing, a playmaking striker, intelligent in the game, good technique “
“Most of them he scored in the sixteen, many with his head,” is how Simon Rolfes classifies the young Spaniard’s main area of work, to whom the sporting director attests all the qualities of a complete goal scorer: “Good finishing, a striker who plays along, intelligent in the game, good technique.”
Should the two top centre forwards and internationals, Patrik Schick (after tearing ligaments in his ankle) and Lucas Alario (muscular problems in his calf), return, Iker Bravo will once again play for Bayer’s U19s, where he will continue to mature. However, his time as a top player in the pros will probably come sooner or later – and possibly bring Barça even harsher criticism.
I like him a lot, he’s highly motivated – and above all he gives it his all.
I don’t expect the 16-year-old to take off now. On the one hand, because he is driven by ambition. National player Jonathan Tah has already said: “I like him a lot, he’s highly motivated – and above all he’s on the ball.
On the other hand, Iker Bravo was humble after his league debut, thanking everyone at the club via Twitter and declaring: “It’s an honour to be able to make my own humble contribution. I will work hard to be ready to help the team whenever possible. “
And even with Schick and Alario returning, Iker Bravo could quickly find himself in the headlines once again: Because his spectacular overhead kick against Düsseldorf was nominated by ARD-Sportschau for the goal of the month for October. Should the goal be awarded as the most beautiful, at least Zidan Sertdemir will not be able to snatch the title of Bayer’s youngest goal scorer of the month away from him with only 22 days to go.