The much-anticipated transfer of Nigerian striker Victor Boniface to AC Milan appears to be on the verge of collapsing.
Although AC Milan had agreed to personal terms with Boniface and sorted out the transfer details with his current club, Bayer Leverkusen, the deal has hit a roadblock.
Medical tests conducted by the Italian club have raised concerns about the striker’s fitness, putting the entire transfer in jeopardy.
Persecondnews reports that Boniface’s injury history is well-documented, dating back to his time in Norway with Bodo Glimt FK.
In the 2018-2019 season, he suffered a crucial ligament tear that kept him out for 179 days.
He faced another ACL injury in the 2020-2021 season, which sidelined him for a year and forced him to miss 56 games, according to Transfermarket.com.
These recurring issues have prompted AC Milan’s medical staff to exercise caution.
AC Milan director Igli Tare: “We are checking Victor Boniface’s medical. His football skills are excellent, but we need to take the right decision.”
Tare added that the club will make a final decision soon on Boniface’s medical, also in consultation with coach Max Allegri.
The medical tests, conducted at Milan’s Centro Ambrosiano and the Galeazzi Orthopaedic Institute, revealed that Boniface’s right knee is not currently at 100% capacity due to previous ACL injuries.
Bayer Leverkusen director Simon Rolfes responded to the development, saying, “If Boniface comes back to Leverkusen, the AC Milan deal will be over. That’s no big secret.”
Rolfes also dismissed the possibility of renegotiating the deal, saying, “Renegotiating the deal? I don’t think that will happen.”
He noted, however, that Boniface’s physical situation has improved compared to the beginning.
The proposed deal between AC Milan and Bayer Leverkusen included a €5 million loan fee and a €24 million purchase option. However, given the medical concerns, it seems unlikely that the transfer will proceed.
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