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It appears that Victor Boniface has lost his place in the Bayer Leverkusen team since his failed move to Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia

Football can be a funny game. One moment, you are a club’s star striker, banging in goals and leading the line with confidence; the next, you are struggling to even get a start.

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That is the situation Victor Boniface finds himself in right now at Bayer Leverkusen, and the striker’s recent moves in the transfer window may be to blame.

After his superb form in Germany, the Nigerian forward looked destined for a blockbuster move to Al Nassr in the Saudi Pro League during the January transfer window, which was all but done, but then, at the last minute, Saudi giants Al Nassr changed their minds and opted to sign Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran instead.

Now, Boniface is back at Leverkusen, trying to fight for his place in a team that seems to have already moved on without him.

How Boniface’s Al Nassr move broke down

When a player openly flirts with a transfer, especially one motivated by financial gain, it can sometimes have unintended consequences.

Boniface’s situation was unique as he was recovering from an injury when Al Nassr came calling, and as Bayer Leverkusen captain Lukas Hrádecký admitted, the move was understandably tempting.

“He was often injured. He has not earned that much money in his career. So, in part, probably economically, yes. It was a lot of money,” Hrádecký said when asked about Boniface’s interest in the Saudi deal.

At 24, Boniface is still young, but he has not had the luxury of multiple big-money contracts like some of his contemporaries.

A move to Al Nassr would have given him financial security for life, thanks to a €15 per year salary offer, and no one can blame him for considering it. However, football is ruthless, and Leverkusen had no choice but to plan for life without him when it looked like he was heading for the exit.

Have Leverkusen moved on without Boniface?

The biggest problem for Boniface now is that his absence did not slow Leverkusen down at all. While he was sidelined, Czech striker Patrick Schick stepped up in a big way, scoring 16 goals in his absence and cementing himself as the team’s main attacking option.

Even when Boniface returned from injury in February, Schick continued his fine form, adding five more goals and making it clear that he was now Xabi Alonso’s go-to striker.

On top of that, Nigerian winger Nathan Tella has also been in red-hot form, chipping in with crucial goals at key moments.

Leverkusen’s attack has been functioning like a well-oiled machine, and Alonso has had little reason to shake things up.

For Boniface, this has meant a frustrating return. Despite scoring in his first two games back, he has only started two of Leverkusen’s last six matches.

In his last two outings, he has played a total of just 22 minutes, watching from the bench as Schick and Tella lead the charge. It is a tough pill to swallow for a player who was once the focal point of the team’s attack.

Can Boniface Win Back His Place?

So, what now for Boniface? Can he fight his way back into Alonso’s plans, or has he already lost too much ground?

One thing working in his favour is that Leverkusen are still competing on multiple fronts, and squad rotation will be necessary.

With the Bundesliga title within reach and European commitments still on the table, Alonso may need to rotate his squad to keep everyone fresh. That could open the door for Boniface to prove his worth again.

The other factor is that Schick’s incredible form may not last forever, and if Schick’s goals dry up, Alonso may have no choice but to turn back to Boniface.

The Nigerian has already shown he can deliver when given the chance, with 10 goals in all competitions so far and if he remains patient, his opportunity will come.

However, there is also the possibility that Bayer Leverkusen have already started looking ahead to a future without Boniface. After coming to terms with potentially losing him in January, the club may have already decided to move on.

If that is the case, Boniface could find himself looking for a new club this summer, whether that be in Saudi Arabia or another European league.

For now, Boniface’s best bet is to keep his head down and work hard in training. He has already proven himself in the Bundesliga, and if he gets a run of games, he could force Alonso into a difficult decision.

But there is no denying that the failed Al Nassr move has had an impact. Whether it was a case of Leverkusen losing trust in him, or simply a matter of bad timing, unfortunately, it looks like Boniface is no longer the automatic starter he once was.