Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface has revealed how a high-profile move from Bayer Leverkusen to Saudi Pro League giants AlNassr dramatically collapsed at the final hour despite having passed his medicals and agreed to personal terms.
The 23-year-old forward was on the verge of joining Cristiano Ronaldo at the Riyadh-based club in a blockbuster transfer reportedly worth €45 million over three years. Boniface had already packed his belongings and made the trip from Cologne to Frankfurt in anticipation of his departure.
Speaking on The Culture League podcast, Boniface shared his emotional rollercoaster and the final moments leading up to the failed deal.
“I was ready to go. I packed my bags. I live in Cologne, we drove to Frankfurt,” Boniface recounted. “The money is a lot, to be honest. Most of my designer clothes and shoes, I had already given them out to my friends at home.”
Despite personal preparations and a club-to-club agreement between Bayer Leverkusen and Al Nassr, the Saudi outfit made a last-minute decision to sign Colombian striker Jhon Durán from Aston Villa instead.
“The flight was waiting. I was in my hotel room praying for the deal to happen but it didn’t work out last minute,” Boniface added.