Bayer Leverkusen’s London-born hotshot lifts lid on what Xabi Alonso is really like

Nathan Tella, whose 17 goals helped Burnley run away with the Championship last season, is now one of Leverkusen’s main weapons as they look to end Bayern Munich’s 11-year title domination in Germany

It’s not just Xabi Alonso who is causing a storm at surprise Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen.

Nathan Tella, whose 17 goals helped Burnley run away with the Championship last season, is now one of Leverkusen’s main weapons as they look to end Bayern Munich ’s 11-year title domination in Germany.

Tella admitted: “The chance of playing in the Bundesliga where lots of young players from England like Jude Bellingham and Jadon Sancho have done so well was too good to resist.”

Burnley would have loved to have signed the goalscoring winger, who was on loan from Southampton, but the £20million asking price proved too prohibitive.

But Leverkusen – having sold Moussa Diaby to Aston Villa for £52m – quickly agreed the deal with Saints. Leverkusen Sporting Director Simon Rolfes maintained: “We gained a fast winger who can score goals, but more importantly someone we knew could develop under Xabi.”

It was a slow burner at first with the 24-year-old, who spent 10 years in Arsenal ’s academy, in and out of the side. But now he is a regular and has at times even upstaged the hugely gifted and extrovert fans’ favourite Jeremie Frimpong.

It has led to a call-up for Nigeria – he also qualified for England, but had his heart set on the Eagles – to help endorse the strides he has made since taking on the challenge of playing abroad. Tella though enjoyed his season under Vincent Kompany at Turf Moor, and during Germany’s mid-season break turned up at Craven Cottage to watch his former club beat Fulham 2-0.

Former manager Kompany added: “Nathan had a great goalscoring ability, but many players with that ability don’t put in the work for the team. He certainly did.”

Tella added: “Playing under Xabi Alonso regularly has given me a lot of confidence and to play in the big games is an amazing opportunity, something I didn’t think would ever be possible a few years ago. Even last season I was playing in the Championship and now it’s the Bundesliga and the Europa League.”

On Sunday it’s a trip to Cologne to enhance their title ambitions, and on Thursday it’s the Europa League round of 16 against Qarabag. He said: “It’s exciting and I’m enjoying every minute.”