Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has highlighted Victor Boniface’s versatility, stating that the Super Eagles forward is capable of playing as both a centre-forward and a winger.
Boniface, who has struggled for regular game time in recent weeks, returned to Alonso's starting XI and made an immediate impact, scoring in Die Werkself’s 3-1 victory over Bochum last Friday, where he partnered first-choice striker Patrik Schick in attack.
The Spanish manager was full of praise for the Nigerian forward’s adaptability, highlighting his ability to excel in different roles on the pitch, even when deployed out of his natural position.
The new position Alonso believes Victor Boniface can play
Speaking at Monday’s press conference ahead of Tuesday’s DFB-Pokal semi-final against Arminia Bielefeld, Alonso said, “I liked both [Boniface and Schick] of them against Bochum, especially in the second half. He [Boniface] did well.
“Boni is back at a good level and can certainly play from the start. With him, we have flexibility; he can play as a center-forward or as a winger.”
Following the highs of his debut campaign on the books of Bayer Leverkusen last season — when he bagged 21 goals and 10 assists en route to winning the DFB-Pokal and Bundesliga title.
In fact, Boniface's flexibility was notably demonstrated earlier this season when Leverkusen faced Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League in November 2024. In that match, he was deployed as a winger, with the team opting not to play a traditional number nine.
The 24-year-old now finds himself an increasingly peripheral figure at the BayArena, having failed to break into the starting XI since his recent recovery from injury. In the current campaign, Boniface has scored 10 goals and provided one assist in 22 appearances across all competitions, averaging 58 minutes per game.
