Victor Boniface. Photo by Jürgen Fromme / firo Sportphoto / dpa Picture-Alliance via AFP)
Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface could get game time in the Bundesliga in the coming weeks, despite his walk to the dressing room during the club’s 4-3 win over Mainz, according to GOAL.
The Nigerian headed straight down the tunnel after coach Carles Martinez made his final substitution in the 84th minute, sending on Jonas Hofmann for Patrick Schick. Boniface was the only recognised striker on the bench because Christian Kofane is out for several weeks with a torn thigh muscle fibre suffered on Cameroon duty.
The 25-year-old has made only one appearance this season, playing five minutes and setting up a goal in the 3-2 defeat to Elversberg on matchday one.
Martinez said he did not notice the incident during the match.
“If that is what happened, we will speak to him,” he said.
“I can understand that every player wants to help the team. At the same time, decisions like that are part of football.”
Sporting director Simon Rolfes played down the matter.
“Perhaps he went to the dressing room a little too early today,” he said.
He added that the club prefers players with emotions, provided they act within the context of the team, and that he was pleased with Boniface’s fitness and conduct in recent months.
Boniface was not registered for the Europa League and will miss Thursday’s tie against Lech Poznań. With Schick unlikely to get much rest, the Bundesliga offers the Nigerian his best route to minutes.
The omission also reflected his status as a potential sale before the Saudi Arabian transfer window closed. A €70m move to Al-Nassr collapsed at the final hurdle in January 2025.
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