Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Mark Flekken has admitted the chance of playing Champions League football was part of his departure from Brentford this summer.
[SportBILD](https://sportbild.bild.de/fussball/champions-league/champions-league-torwart-mark-flekken-spricht-ueber-sein-debuet-in-der-koenigsklasse-68c94a3e677ecd71371040bb) have an interview with the Dutch goalkeeper today in which he admits the prospect of Champions League football was in his thinking when he left Brentford for a return o Germany.
Flekken made the surprise move to Leverkusen in an €11m deal this summer after two years with Brentford following a €13m move from Freiburg in 2023.
Few would have seen the move coming for the goalkeeper, who had established himself with the Bees after arriving to replace David Raya.
He’s already explained that his move to Leverkusen was partly motivated by an opportunity to link up with fellow Dutchman Erik ten Hag, who has now been sacked, and a desire from his family to move back to Germany after a couple of years in England.
A huge motivator, though, was the opportunity to play in the Champions League, something he hasn’t done to date.
He’s now one step away from rectifying that as Leverkusen start their league phase against Copenhagen on Thursday, and he can’t wait to realise a childhood dream.
“That’s a very good question,” he said when asked ‘how important the Champions League aspect was in his move from Brentford.
“If you can move from a club that plays in the Premier League to a club that has been at the top of the Bundesliga for the past two years, and you can also play in the Champions League, then that’s obviously very, very tempting.
As a child, I always watched the best players in the Champions League. And of course, I dreamed of being able to play there one day. It used to be just a dream, but now it’s hopefully coming true soon.
“I’ve experienced quite a lot in my career. I came from the bottom. When I stand on the pitch in a few weeks and hear the anthem, it will of course be a highlight.”