LEVERKUSEN, Germany: Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface is “happy” and “focused” even though a potential January move to Saudi Arabia fell through last month, the German club’s sporting director Simon Rolfes said Friday.
Boniface was left out of training and one matchday squad in January while Leverkusen were set to receive up a reported $73.50m from Saudi side Al-Nassr, according to German media.
Instead, the Saudi club signed Aston Villa forward Jhon Duran.
Boniface, 24, returned to training with the defending Bundesliga champions and has scored two goals in three games, including an extra-time winner in Leverkusen’s German Cup quarter-final win against local rivals Cologne.
Rolfes said on Friday that Boniface was fully focused and did not feel his chance of a big move had passed.
“He’s very good now and I think he’s happy. He’s happy with the guys. That’s what I feel every day when I see him.
“He’s laughing in the locker room with the other crazy guys.
“They have a lot of fun together and he knows he has a bright future, so it’s not a once-in-a-lifetime chance.”
Rolfes, who brought Boniface to the club in the summer of 2023, did not comment on the reported transfer fee or salary, but said it was “normal” for a player and a club to consider big offers.
“He likes the club, the teammates, our ambitions, but for sure when it’s a certain amount in salary the player also starts thinking about it and I think that’s normal and there was never a problem.”
“Sporting-wise, we have no doubt about his quality,” Rolfes said, adding “Xabi (Alonso), myself and the club, we wanted to keep Victor but for a certain amount you have to be open to speak.”
Leverkusen, who qualified directly for the Champions League last 16 and are through to the final four of the German Cup, host league leaders Bayern Munich on Saturday.
Leverkusen’s Boniface ‘happy’ despite unsuccessful Saudi move
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Leverkusen’s Boniface ‘happy’ despite unsuccessful Saudi move
- Rolfes said on Friday that Boniface was fully focused and did not feel his chance of a big move had passed
- “He’s very good now and I think he’s happy”
Alcaraz swats aside Walton as career Grand Slam bid begins in Melbourne
- The 22-year-old Spaniard can eclipse Don Budge and become the youngest man to win all four major singles titles at least once
MELBOURNE: Carlos Alcaraz kicked off his latest bid for a career Grand Slam by dismantling unseeded Australian Adam Walton 6-3 7-6(2) 6-2 in the first round of the Australian Open on Sunday, as the world number one showcased the power and precision befitting a player chasing history.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, who can eclipse Don Budge and become the youngest man to win all four major singles titles at least once, gave a packed Rod Laver Arena an exhibition in shot-making that had fans either glued to their seats or rising in ovation.
“I’m really happy to step on to the court for the first time this season. I think it couldn’t be better than here at Rod Laver Arena. It was a good match, I felt great,” Alcaraz said.
“Adam (showed) a great level in the match so I had to stay there. Overall, I’m happy with the level I played at today.
“It was difficult to find good spots (against him) ... he was always in a good position, long rallies and solid from the baseline. His flat ball was sometimes really difficult for me.
“It was a really solid match and when he was able to step in on the court and play aggressive, he did, and that made it really difficult in the match.”
A ferocious forehand helped Alcaraz to grab the first break for a 5-3 lead and the six-times Grand Slam champion closed out the opening set on his retooled serve, which now bears more than a passing resemblance to the delivery of Novak Djokovic.
That technical tweak followed Alcaraz’s abrupt split last month with long-time coach Juan Carlos Ferrero, whose steadying influence was missing when the Spaniard was dragged into a second-set tiebreak after a spell of loose, crowd-pleasing tennis.
A ruthless Alcaraz came out all guns blazing to double his advantage in the clash and then rode the momentum to ease through the third set, booking a second-round meeting with Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann.
