Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface has heaped reward on membership teammate Florian Wirtz, describing the German worldwide as a “improbable participant” and admitting he hadn’t heard of him previous to their first on-pitch assembly, Soccernet.ng reviews.
Earlier than transferring to Leverkusen in the summertime of 2023, Boniface was a rising star at Belgian aspect Union Saint-Gilloise.
The Nigerian ahead had no concept who Wirtz was — till the 2 crossed paths within the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League earlier that very same yr.
What Boniface mentioned of Leverkusen teammate Wirtz
“After we performed them with St. Gilloise within the UEFA Europa League, I knew nothing about Flo as a result of I didn’t watch that many Leverkusen video games as we had been taking part in too,” Boniface recalled in a chat with Bundesliga.com.
“Earlier than the sport, a journalist got here to me and mentioned, are you trying ahead to the sport? I mentioned sure. And he requested me, what do you consider Flo? I mentioned, no disrespect, I don’t actually watch Bundesliga. I don’t actually know a lot of him. The man then mentioned to me, you’re going to know him within the sport.”
And he did. Within the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final, each gamers scored in a 1-1 attract Germany.
Leverkusen gained the return leg 4-1, progressing 5-2 on mixture, and Boniface’s efficiency was sufficient to persuade the Bundesliga aspect to signal him that summer season.
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Boniface has since shaped a formidable partnership with Wirtz at Leverkusen. The duo had been central to Xabi Alonso’s aspect successful their first-ever Bundesliga title, securing the DFB-Pokal, and reaching the Europa League remaining, the place they ultimately misplaced to Ademola Lookman’s Atalanta.
“As a striker like me, you are feeling blissful each time on the pitch when you will have a participant like Flo behind you as a result of, in a sport, you will have one or two possibilities coming from him. You simply should convert them,” Boniface mentioned.
“He’s a improbable participant to look at and play with. I really feel blissful to have somebody like this behind me. We now have a very good connection on the pitch, and I actually recognize it.”
The 24-year-old Tremendous Eagles striker has been linked with numerous Europe’s high golf equipment following his breakout season in Germany. In January, Boniface was near transferring to Saudi Arabia whereas Wirtz is reportedly a goal for Spanish giants Actual Madrid.
In the meantime, with simply 4 video games remaining within the 2024/25 Bundesliga marketing campaign, Boniface insists there’s nonetheless every thing to play for as Leverkusen attempt to defend their crown.
Bayern Munich, who misplaced their grip on the title to Leverkusen final season, at present sit eight factors clear on the high of the desk. However Boniface is adamant the race isn’t over but.
Nevertheless, if Bayern beat Mainz on the Allianz Area and Leverkusen fail to win towards Augsburg, the Bavarians will seal a record-extending thirty fourth Bundesliga crown.
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns right into a ball of ardour when writing about Nigerian soccer and its skills, whether or not rising stars or established legends, domestically and overseas.
From the deepest corners of the Center East, to the inexperienced fields of the Americas, to the celebrated grounds in Europe, and the wealthy soils of Africa, Imhons is greater than glad, normally with a glass of a tasty drink close by, to seize the essence of the sport, by connecting the dots between tradition, id, and soccer.
