If you’re going to try to compete with Bayern Munich, you need an edge, and one of Bayer Leverkusen’s in the last few decades has been their ability to uncover South American talent.
Brazilians like Paulo Sergio and Emerson shone for the club in the 1990s, and there would be other stars from the continent that would grace the BayArena pitch like Brazilian behemoth Lucio, Argentinean full-back Diego Placente and Chilean midfield warrior Arturo Vidal.