Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface has finally broken his silence on the botched move to Saudi Pro League giants Al Nassr, attributing the last-minute failure to what he humorously referred to as “my village people.”
The Bayer Leverkusen forward was on the brink of sealing a mega-money switch to the Saudi club last summer. Having agreed to personal terms, Boniface had already packed his bags, driven to Frankfurt, and was ready to board his flight when the deal dramatically collapsed.
In a candid interview on the “Culture League” podcast, Boniface revealed that the decision to consider the Saudi offer was deeply influenced by his injury history. He stated:
- “I’ve faced a lot of injuries and I’m still young. I had a great offer from Saudi… and I started calling family,” he said. “People were already calculating the money on my behalf.”
The 24-year-old has missed 37 games over the last two seasons due to injuries and had earlier endured two cruciate ligament tears during his time at Bodo Glimt, sidelining him for 90 games.
According to him, the Saudi offer seemed like a financially secure decision, especially considering the physical toll of his career. He narrated how even his elder brother initially urged him to choose a top European club for footballing reasons, until he saw the figures.
“Two minutes later, my brother called back and said someone sent him the offer details from Tunde Ednut’s page. He said, ‘You dey craze? You need to go to Saudi!’ That’s how serious the money was.”
Boniface added that Bayer Leverkusen was also eager to push the deal forward, as the Saudi club’s €70 million bid appealed to both parties. But in a shocking twist, Al Nassr chose to go with Colombian striker Jhon Duran instead.
“Everything was set. I gave out my designer clothes to friends, booked a hotel in Frankfurt, and was praying for the deal to go through,” he said. “But at the last minute, it collapsed. That’s when I said, ‘My village people, una don come again.”
Despite the disappointment, Boniface remains focused on his career, with links now pointing to a potential move to AC Milan.
