'Not a problem' – Leverkusen chief insists club won't chase Boniface away after failed Milan move

Victor Boniface's future at Bayer Leverkusen has been the subject of intense speculation after two transfer moves collapsed in the space of eight months.

Last week, the Nigeria international, who scored freely during Bayer Leverkusen's title-winning campaign, had been on the verge of joining AC Milan on loan with an option to buy.

However, the Serie A giants pulled out of the deal after raising concerns about his right knee, which has twice required cruciate ligament surgery.

Ironically, Boniface had passed a medical at Al-Nassr in January, before the Saudi Pro League club opted to sign Aston Villa's Jhon Durán instead.

The Nigerian, who is under contract until 2028, now finds himself back at Bayer Leverkusen, where he has slipped to third choice striker.

Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes has offered reassurance about the future of the Super Eagles striker.

"Boni has behaved sensibly now, too. That’s definitely not a problem, but he needs to get into physical shape now so he’s at 100 percent," Rolfes told BILD.

Signed from Union Saint-Gilloise in July 2023, Boniface has 32 goals and 12 assists in 61 matches for Bayer Leverkusen.

The 24-year-old has been named in Nigeria's provisional squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda's Wasps and South Africa's Bafana Bafana.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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