Former Manchester United Manager Erik Ten Hag Inolved in Leverkusen Drama Over Former Arsenal Star

Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag has barely settled into his new role at Bayer Leverkusen, yet controversy is already swirling around the Dutchman after a disastrous friendly defeat and a heated standoff with the club's top brass over the future of former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka.

Appointed this summer to lead the German Bundesliga runners-up, Ten Hag's Leverkusen tenure has started on shaky ground.

The Dutch man, who was sacked by Manchester United in November, saw his side crumble 5-1 in a preseason friendly against Flamengo’s U21 team in Brazil, a result that stunned fans and reportedly triggered panic within the coaching staff.

But that embarrassing loss was only the beginning of his troubles. The real drama exploded over the club’s handling of Granit Xhaka’s transfer to the Premier League.

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Swiss international Granit Xhaka, 32, had reportedly agreed personal terms with newly-promoted Sunderland, and both clubs had finalized the deal.

Xhaka, who joined Leverkusen in 2023 from Arsenal, had long been linked with an exit and was seemingly on his way back to England.

However, just as the move appeared set in stone, Ten Hag threw a wrench into the proceedings.

“This club has already sold three key players Wirtz, Frimpong, and Tah. We won’t sell any more. It’s simply not possible. It would impact the squad’s structure and quality,” the Dutchman said in a press conference, referring to Leverkusen’s busy transfer window.

His comments stood in direct contrast to those of sporting director Simon Rolfes, who had publicly confirmed Xhaka’s exit to Sunderland.

The conflicting messages caused confusion and uproar among fans and media alike, raising questions about who truly holds power at the club.

According to German outlet Bild, Ten Hag had initially shown little interest in Xhaka during his early weeks in charge.

The report alleges that the manager didn’t factor the midfielder into his long-term plans, until the crushing 5-1 defeat to Flamengo U21 forced him to reevaluate.

The performance exposed clear midfield weaknesses, and Ten Hag seemingly panicked, reversing his stance on Xhaka in a bid to retain experience and stability.

The problem, however, is that the decision may have come too late. Sources close to the player suggest that Xhaka remains determined to make the move to Sunderland, with a medical and contract signing expected in the coming days despite Ten Hag’s objections.

Beyond the Xhaka saga, Ten Hag has also called publicly for more attacking firepower, stressing the need for creators to support forwards Patrik Schick and Victor Boniface.

Whether his demands will be met remains to be seen, but what’s clear is that Leverkusen’s pre-season has already been marred by uncertainty, internal contradictions, and on-pitch struggles — not the ideal foundation for a title push.