At one point this week, it seemed inevitable that Victor Boniface would trade his current club, Bayer Leverkusen, for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. The transfer buzz began after Al Nassr, looking to fill the void left by Anderson Talisca, who moved to Fenerbahçe, opened negotiations with the Bundesliga champions.
Despite Boniface signing a contract extension with Leverkusen until 2026, making him one of their highest-paid players, he was not deemed “unsellable.” Reports suggested that Boniface had even skipped training, with his bags reportedly packed for the Middle East, as Al Nassr had agreed to a transfer fee exceeding €60 million, promising Boniface a princely sum of €15 million net per season.
However, the transfer fell through when Al Nassr decided to invest €77 million in Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran instead. This left Boniface back at Leverkusen, where he has since resumed training. Speaking to SportsBoom, Boniface reflected on the transfer talk, “Transfer rumours are normal in football. It’s always flattering when big clubs show interest, but my focus right now is 100% on Bayer Leverkusen.”
This saga has sparked discussions about Boniface’s career trajectory, particularly whether he should have considered moving to Saudi Arabia. Deji Faremi, co-owner of Busy Buddies and a sports analyst, weighed in on this, understanding the allure of such a lucrative offer. “Especially considering where a guy like Boniface is coming from, you can see how and why that sort of move would interest him,” Faremi noted, acknowledging the temptation of tripling one’s salary.
The choice between Duran and Boniface by Al Nassr was puzzling to some. Faremi speculated, “Hard to tell. Duran is a younger option… But maybe he was also more interested in joining them. Boniface is easily the better player though. They have missed out on an excellent player.”
There’s also been discussion about the impact of such a move on Boniface’s international career with the Super Eagles of Nigeria. Faremi dismisses concerns, pointing out, “The level in Saudi is quite good and we’ve seen many players like Ronaldo, Kante remain important members of their national teams despite playing in Saudi Arabia.”
Looking ahead, if Boniface himself decided against the move for reasons beyond Al Nassr’s choice, it could suggest a long-term strategy. Faremi suggests, “If he’s turned down the offer – and not the other way round – it could suggest he would rather play in Europe, hunt for bigger and more prestigious trophies, and make a name for himself at the highest level.”
Boniface might still see those Saudi earnings if he maintains his form and secures a high-profile transfer to leagues like the Premier League or Serie A. This episode in his career illustrates a crossroads moment where personal ambition, financial gain, and loyalty to his current club and future career prospects all intersect.
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