Bayer Leverkusen’s Victor Boniface returns to Union Saint-Gilloise with mixed feelings

The young Nigerian striker has been exceptional in Germany but he make a quick return to Belgium at the weekend

Former Union Saint-Gilloise star Victor Boniface has opened up about his departure from the Belgian club, expressing a mix of emotions as he returned to his former stomping ground, Soccernet.ng reports. 

Boniface, who spent just a year with the club, made an indelible mark during his tenure, notably leading them to the Europa League quarterfinals and claiming the joint-top goalscorer title alongside Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford with six goals.

However, the Nigerian striker’s remarkable performance did not go unnoticed, and Bayer Leverkusen came knocking with a substantial €20 million offer during the summer transfer window.

Upon his arrival in Germany, Boniface wasted no time showcasing his ability on the pitch.

He has quickly adapted to his new surroundings and netted five goals in just five matches, earning him both the Bundesliga Player of the Month and Bundesliga Rookie of the Month awards for August.

On Friday, Boniface delivered another brilliant display to help secure a 2-2 draw for Bayer Leverkusen against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena .

Yet, on Sunday, amidst this whirlwind of success, Boniface took a poignant trip down memory lane as he revisited Union Saint-Gilloise, his former club.

Prior to Union SG’s match against Genk, the Parc Duden faithful warmly welcomed Boniface back to the place where he called home until recently.

In an interview with Nieuwsblad afterwards (as per Walfoot), Boniface revealed his sentiment regarding the departure from Union Saint-Gilloise, saying,

“It’s nice to be back here. I wanted to support the Union on my day off. When I left here, I couldn’t say goodbye to the fans, which is why I wanted to come back. Otherwise, I didn’t feel good.”

This remarkable season has also seen Boniface earn his first international call-up, making his Super Eagles debut for Nigeria in September during a resounding 6-0 victory against Sao Tome and Principe in Uyo.

Boniface capped off his debut with an assist for the final goal.