Victor Boniface’s move to Al Nassr would’ve been a waste – Odemwingie

Former Super Eagles forward Peter Odemwingie has expressed his relief that Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface did not make a move to Al Nassr during the January transfer window, Soccernet.ng reports.

Earlier this year, the Bayer Leverkusen star was on the verge of joining Cristiano Ronaldo at Al Nassr following the exit of Anderson Talisca to Fenerbahçe SK.

However, the deal was called off when the Saudi Arabian club opted for former Aston Villa and Colombian forward Jhon Durán.

As cited by Africafoot, Odemwingie stated that the young forward has what it takes to compete at the highest level in Europe and suggested that a move to Saudi Arabia at this stage would have stalled his progress.

“Honestly, I saw his possible departure for Saudi Arabia last January as a waste,” Odemwingie said. “Fortunately, it didn’t happen, and I think it’s a good thing for his career. Victor is a player of inestimable talent.”

The 24-year-old Boniface has been one of the key players in Xabi Alonso’s squad, helping Leverkusen clinch their first-ever Bundesliga title and reach the final of the 2023–24 UEFA Europa League.

Odemwingie believes the Nigerian striker will attract serious interest from top clubs across Europe in the coming months and has backed him to succeed in one of the continent’s top five leagues.

“I’m convinced that by the next transfer window, he’ll have several offers from big European teams, and he’ll have to take on this challenge,” Odemwingie added. “He has the profile, for example, to make his mark in England or Spain. He’s a young striker who can still improve on certain details of his game, and I think he would be a great addition to his next club.”

Boniface has continued to impress for the German side, scoring eight goals in 18 domestic league matches so far, which is still a criterion for interest in the upcoming transfer window.