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Victor Boniface opens up on failed Milan move, slams critics Anthony Nlebem Nigerian striker Victor Boniface has shed light on why his proposed transfer to Serie A giants AC Milan collapsed, admitting his history of serious injuries played a decisive role. The Bayer Leverkusen forward revealed how two anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries earlier in his career left lasting concerns. The setbacks were compounded by the personal tragedy of losing his mother, which almost pushed him into quitting football altogether. “I gave up at a point. When others were playing football, I was just working to get back," Boniface said as quoted on Football Italia, "After my second ACL injury, I didn’t even want to play again because of the pain of the first and what I went through during the second. I lost my mum around that time too,” Boniface recalled. The 24-year-old was expected to join Milan on loan with an option to buy, but the move collapsed after he reportedly failed medical tests. “The move didn’t work out because of my past injuries,” Boniface admitted. “I had a knee injury twice on my right leg, and it has been there for a long time.” The Super Eagles forward, who underwent knee surgeries in 2019 and 2020, also missed several games during the 2024/25 season due to muscle problems. Despite scoring 32 goals in 61 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen and winning the Bundesliga title, Boniface has faced criticism for the number of games he has missed. In a pointed response to his detractors, the striker challenged them, saying, "Try to make it to my level before you insult me." With the move to Italy off the table, Boniface is now focused on the rest of his career with Bayer Leverkusen, where he is under contract until June 2028.
