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.”
See also Victor Boniface Jokes About Hanging Up Boots After Underwhelming Performance "The 24-year-old Super Eagles forward made the announcement after Nigeria's 1-1 draw against Russia in an international friendly match in Moscow on Friday" By Samuel Akpan Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface took to social media to announce his retirement from international football, only to delete the post minutes later and share a meme hinting it was all a joke. The 24-year-old Super Eagles forward made the announcement after Nigeria's 1-1 draw against Russia in an international friendly match in Moscow on Friday. In his Instagram post, Boniface expressed gratitude for the opportunity to play for his country, saying, "Proud to play for my country and a dream for me also. Really enjoyed every moment, the good and the bad. Thanks a lot. "Thank you all. I don hang boot." However, fans were not convinced, given his history of social media jokes and lighthearted antics. The international friendly match between Russia and Nigeria ended in a 1-1 draw. Russia took the lead in the 27th minute when Semi Ajayi scored an own goal, deflecting a cross from Danil Krugovoy into the net. Despite dominating the game, Nigeria struggled to find the back of the net until Tolu Arokodare, who replaced Boniface in the 61st minute, scored the equalizer in the 71st minute. Arokodare's goal was a testament to his impact on the game, and it salvaged a draw for the Super Eagles. Nigeria's goalkeeper, Maduka Okoye, also made crucial saves to prevent Russia from scoring further. The draw maintained Eric Chelle's unbeaten record as Super Eagles coach, with three wins and two draws so far. Boniface's performance against Russia was another underwhelming display, sparking criticism from fans and pundits. He failed to score or create significant chances, leading to his substitution in favour of Arokodare. Persecondnews notes that the striker has yet to score for the Super Eagles, despite playing 13 games for the national team.
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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