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Leverkusen Sign Defender Grimaldo from Benfica on Four-Year Deal

Benfica's Spanish midfielder Alex Grimaldo celebrates after scoring a goal during the Portuguese League football match between Portimonense SC and SL Benfica at the Portimonense Municipal stadium in Portimao on May 13, 2023. (AFP)
Benfica's Spanish midfielder Alex Grimaldo celebrates after scoring a goal during the Portuguese League football match between Portimonense SC and SL Benfica at the Portimonense Municipal stadium in Portimao on May 13, 2023. (AFP)
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Leverkusen Sign Defender Grimaldo from Benfica on Four-Year Deal

Benfica's Spanish midfielder Alex Grimaldo celebrates after scoring a goal during the Portuguese League football match between Portimonense SC and SL Benfica at the Portimonense Municipal stadium in Portimao on May 13, 2023. (AFP)
Benfica's Spanish midfielder Alex Grimaldo celebrates after scoring a goal during the Portuguese League football match between Portimonense SC and SL Benfica at the Portimonense Municipal stadium in Portimao on May 13, 2023. (AFP)

Bayer Leverkusen have signed former Spain youth international Alejandro Grimaldo for next season on a four-year deal, the Bundesliga club said on Monday.

Leverkusen have flourished under Spanish coach Xabi Alonso since he took over in October last year, leading them from 16th to seventh in the league with two games remaining, and with a shot at a Europa Conference League spot.

They are also through to the Europa League semi-finals where they face AS Roma in the second leg this week after losing 1-0 in Italy.

The 27-year-old Grimaldo, a product of Barcelona's youth system who also played for the Spanish club's reserves, had been at Benfica since 2016. He joins Leverkusen as a free agent.

"Alejandro Grimaldo is a speedy and skilled full back who is tactically very versatile," said Leverkusen sports director Simon Rolfes. "He is a threat in front of goal and has a lot of experience and quality."

"We are happy that we could convince Alejandro of our long-term ambitious concept."

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Tennis in Good Hands Despite High-Profile Retirements, Says United Cup Chief

Spain's Rafael Nadal waves to the crowd during a tribute after playing his last match as a professional in the Davis Cup quarterfinals at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall in Malaga, southern Spain, early Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP)
Spain's Rafael Nadal waves to the crowd during a tribute after playing his last match as a professional in the Davis Cup quarterfinals at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall in Malaga, southern Spain, early Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP)
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Tennis in Good Hands Despite High-Profile Retirements, Says United Cup Chief

Spain's Rafael Nadal waves to the crowd during a tribute after playing his last match as a professional in the Davis Cup quarterfinals at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall in Malaga, southern Spain, early Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP)
Spain's Rafael Nadal waves to the crowd during a tribute after playing his last match as a professional in the Davis Cup quarterfinals at the Martin Carpena Sports Hall in Malaga, southern Spain, early Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024. (AP)

The retirements of tennis greats Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Serena Williams has made promoting events more difficult but organizers must grab the opportunity to push new talent into the spotlight, the United Cup's tournament director said.

The popular $10 million mixed team event aims to do just that when it kicks off the new season on Friday, with tournament chief Stephen Farrow confident the sport is in good hands.

"It's true to say that from a promotional standpoint, it's very easy if you've got Roger Federer or Rafa Nadal turning up," Farrow told Reuters after the draw for the 18-team tournament was held in Sydney recently.

"You're talking about people who are absolute superstars of the sports arena ... with those guys moving on, it does make it a bit more difficult to promote and tell the story of the athletes playing the event.

"I always see that as a positive, because it's on all of us in tennis to tell the story of this new talent.

"We've got a lot of them playing the United Cup. They're incredibly exciting and captivating to watch. I'm not worried about the future."

Grand Slam contenders Alexander Zverev, Taylor Fritz, Iga Swiatek and Coco Guff will all be in action for their countries at the Dec. 27-Jan. 5 tournament staged in Perth and Sydney as they prepare for the Australian Open starting on Jan. 12.

Farrow also said the United Cup was still building its brand and boosting awareness with fans and players.

"Last year we saw a really big step forward when we moved to a new format with one women's singles, one men's singles and one mixed doubles. It was incredibly competitive.

"Now we've established ourselves on the tennis calendar two weeks from the Australian Open. We've seen with the field this year that players want to play this event."

Spain take on Kazakhstan while China meet Brazil on the opening day in Perth.