In Frankfurt, Germany, there was a bit of tension on the field during Leverkusen’s Bundesliga victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, as coach Xabi Alonso downplayed a heated moment between two of his players.
Forward Victor Boniface showed frustration towards teammate Emiliano Buendía after they clashed during stoppage time in Saturday’s dominant 4-1 win. The situation required calming efforts from teammates, including Jeremie Frimpong, and coach Alonso followed closely as Boniface exited the field post-game.
In the press briefing after the match, Alonso addressed the issue, stating, “I spoke with Boni. Though I don’t know the entire story, his intention was to go for the shot, and such things happen in football. There’s no need to blow it out of proportion. We’re keeping things calm and will resume training on Monday.”
Both players entered the game as substitutes, and by then, all goals had already been scored. Buendía had recently joined from Aston Villa, having transferred in the winter window, while Boniface had been through a challenging period. He suffered a thigh injury last November with Nigeria and was involved in an unsuccessful 70-million-euro transfer negotiation with Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia.
Leverkusen star Patrik Schick gave a public comment that was perceived as a dig at Boniface amid his transfer talks, emphasizing his own desire to compete at a high level when Boniface’s move seemed uncertain. The club appeared willing to let Boniface go, and he is still reportedly of interest to Premier League team Newcastle.
Since his transfer from Union Saint-Gilloise in 2023, Boniface has netted 21 goals in 37 Bundesliga appearances, despite this season being affected by injuries and the presence of Schick. This season, Boniface has managed 10 goals in all competitions, down from his tally of 21 in the previous term.
Leverkusen has a challenging fixture list ahead, next facing Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich in the last 16 of the Champions League. The first leg will take place in Munich on Wednesday, with the second leg scheduled in Leverkusen on March 11. Between these matches, they will host struggling side Werder Bremen at home.
