Ex-Arsenal star Granit Xhaka scores incredible goal before pranking terrified boss Xabi Alonso with his celebration
GRANIT XHAKA pranked his own manager with a goal celebration as brilliant as his stunning strike.
Xabi Alonso went from ecstasy to terror on the sideline as the former Arsenal midfielder lashed into the back of the net only to immediately grab his hamstring.
But it turned out the Liverpool target was the only one not in on the joke as the Bundesliga leaders hosted Mainz on Friday night.
Fans loved the comical caper after the Swiss star scored for the first time in 25 matches since quitting the Gunners for Alonso’s side.
Xhaka went from hardman to funny man – despite the tension at the top of the German top flight as Leverkusen bid to dethrone Bayern Munich.
He’s certainly had a long time to plan something special for his first goal.
And his moment arrived after he skilfully shifted his body to thunder home a first-time left-footer from 25 yards in just the fourth minute.
Xhaka wheeled away to rejoice – but quickly pulled up, clutching the back of his left leg and grimacing.
Team-mates encircled the 31-year-old to salute his goal.
And gradually Xhaka as well as wing-back Jeremie Frimpong turned the leg-holding into a celebration – as they danced off, lifting their knees in unison, while their colleagues grinned knowingly.
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Ex-Liverpool midfield stylist Alonso was pictured on the Leverkusen bench with a worried expression that turned into a burst of laughter.
And his coaching team looked just as relieved when they too realised they’d been had.
One viewer claimed: “I died laughing” while another wrote: “The reaction of the staff lol.”
Other fans hailed Xhaka’s antics with comments like: “He faked his coach lol” and “Lol I thought he was going to twerk”.
And one observer even compared the Leverkusen levity to other epic celebrations.
He posted: “The video has everything to become iconic. The goal, celebration, the commentators who were fooled and Alonso who holds back the trainers.”
But if Xhaka had the first laugh, Leverkusen struggled to have the last one.
Dominik Kohr headed a shock leveller for lowly Mainz in only the eighth minute of a tight contest.