Azmoun in limbo after skipping Leverkusen training
Sardar Azmoun faces an uncertain future as the Iranian striker is yet to decide on his next move after spending a season on loan at AS Roma from Bayer Leverkusen.
The 29-year-old completed the regular performance diagnostics on Sunday for his parent club, though he did not show up for the German domestic double winner’s first training session ahead of the new campaign on Monday – much to the surprise of club’s managing director.
“You don’t just have to do the performance diagnostics, you also have to train,” said Simon Rolfes, adding: “He was there yesterday, but not today, so we have to clarify what’s going on.”
The Iranian international bagged three goals and four assists in 29 games across all competitions for the Giallorossi last term but the Italian capital cub, which failed to secure a Champions League spot for next season, refused to make a permanent bid for the striker.
Rumors keep swirling around Azmoun’s future with German newspaper Kicker reporting the Bundesliga side is keen on cashing out on the Iranian asset, who joined from Zenit St. Petersburg for €2.5 million in January 2022 and went on to register five goals and assists apiece in 44 appearances during a difficult season-and-a-half spell marked by injury setbacks.
Spanish club Sevilla is believed to be interested in signing the striker as “a potential successor to departing candidate Youssef En-Nesyri,” according to Kicker.
A couple of clubs in the Emirati and Qatari top flights have also made inquiries about Azmoun, who is tied to the Leverkusen contract until summer 2027, with the German side waiting for a concrete offer from a club willing to pay €10 million for the Iranian.
Azmoun’s future might be far from decided but one thing is for sure: The Bayer partnership is set to end in the coming weeks in any case.