Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes has opened up on the club’s decision to send Nigerian striker Victor Boniface on loan to Werder Bremen, revealing that the move was primarily aimed at restoring the player’s fitness.
Boniface played a crucial role in Leverkusen’s historic title-winning campaign, delivering an outstanding performance with 21 goals and nine assists in 34 appearances, as the club secured a domestic double without losing a single match.
However, things took a different turn the following season, as the striker struggled with recurring injuries that significantly reduced his playing time.
Focus on Fitness, Not Just Game Time
According to Rolfes, the decision to send Boniface out on loan was not about performance, but rather a strategic move to help him regain full fitness.
He explained that both the club and the player agreed that Boniface needed more time to train consistently and rebuild his physical condition—something that was difficult to achieve with Leverkusen’s demanding schedule.
“He was unbelievable in the championship season, but in the second season, he had some injury problems. We spoke together and agreed he needs more training to get back to his best shape,” Rolfes said.
With matches coming every few days due to domestic and European competitions, Rolfes noted that it became nearly impossible for the striker to properly recover and train at the required level.
“If you’re playing every three days, you’re not really training with the team. We felt it would be difficult to get him back to his best shape under that rhythm,” he added.
Loan Spell Setback, But Recovery in Progress
Unfortunately, Boniface’s loan move did not go entirely as planned. During his time at Bremen, the forward suffered a knee injury that required surgery.
Despite this setback, Leverkusen remain optimistic about his recovery and long-term fitness.
“He had some problems with his knee, needed surgery, which went really well. Now he’s on his way back, and his knee is much better,” Rolfes confirmed.
The Nigerian international has since resumed individual training as he works towards regaining full match fitness and returning to peak performance.
Looking Ahead
While the loan spell came with unexpected challenges, Leverkusen still view the move as part of a broader plan to help Boniface return stronger.
With his recovery now on track, fans will be hoping to see the prolific striker rediscover the form that made him one of the standout players in Germany.
