Alejandro Grimaldo was born on 20th September 1995 in Valencia, Spain. He developed a passion for football from a very young age and started playing local games. He started his career as a central midfielder at Atlético Valbonense of Valencia in 2006 and spent his early years in the academy improving his basics. His performances…

Exequiel Palacios was 20 years old when he starred for River Plate as they defeated crosstown rivals Boca Juniors in the Copa Libertadores Final. He was 21 when he departed his boyhood club and joined Bayer Leverkusen for €22 million. He was 22 when he came off the bench and led Argentina to victory against…

Borussia Dortmund may have had an underwhelming season domestically, finishing fifth in the Bundesliga and fully in the shadow of the all-conquering Bayer Leverkusen, but Die Schwarzgelben do have the small matter of a Champions League final against Real Madrid at the start of June.   For all their failings on the domestic scene, Dortmund…

Invincible: a term reserved for only the greatest of teams. Arsenal 2003/2004, Juventus 2011-2012 spring to mind as the most notable of teams who have gone a whole league season unbeaten. Now Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen are one game away from joining this illustrious group.   They have shattered records, broken Bayern Munich’s 11-year hegemony…

Granit Xhaka has been battling against the tide of perception his whole career. Whilst he eventually jabbed, jibed, and gesticulated his way into the hearts of Arsenal fans, this wasn’t how he envisioned it. A graceful midfielder, with a range of passes and emotions. He was distilled into the lazy hardman image to fit a…