Ibrahim Maza on new environment at Leverkusen
| Ibrahim Maza and Erik ten Hag. | Christof Koepsel/Getty Images |
“It's not any different, I play football and put the work in. But it's a bit more intense, and it's tough,” said Maza, speaking to club media.
“The quality of the players and everything else was even better than I expected, and it's been great. The boys have helped me settle in, and it's been fun. Amine Adli, Aleix [Garcia] Boni, I get on well with everyone.”
Before becoming a midfield mainstay for Hertha, Berlin-born Maza was on the books of local side Reinickendorf Füchse. He went on to complete the transition from the playing fields of Berlin to the Bundesliga, coming on as a late substitute against Bayern München at the end of the 2022/23 season.
He scored his first professional goal just one month later against Wolfsburg, becoming the youngest goalscorer in Hertha history at 17 years, six months and three days old. And since the club's relegation to the 2. Bundesliga, Maza has gone from strength to strength.
He registered five goals and five assists as Hertha stumbled to an 11th place finish.
He is now keen to keep on improving as a result of his Leverkusen move: “I want to work hard, try to improve, and learn from the older players.”
And when asked what he is most looking forward to about the team's training camp in Brazil, the teenager was certain with: “The weather! Apart from that, spending time with the boys, making friends with them and getting to know everyone better.”
Leverkusen's training camp will take place in Rio de Janeiro from July 14th to July 24th as they prepare for a new era under Erik ten Hag.
