Victor Boniface: Werder Bremen chief issues update on Super Eagles striker

Werder Bremen’s chief personnel executive, Clemens Fritz, has weighed in on Victor Boniface’s transfer amidst talks of a ‘mistake’, Afrik Foot reports.

The 25-year-old failed his medical last summer upon a proposed move to AC Milan, eventually returning to his parent club Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

Surprisingly, Boniface joined Bremen on a season-long loan on the summer transfer deadline day, but his form at Weser Stadion wasn’t pleasing.

Werder Bremen boss opines on Boniface transfer

Boniface didn’t score a goal in eleven appearances for Werder, amidst struggles with fitness and weight concerns.

Ultimately, the former Union St. Gilloise man had to undergo surgery after it was found out that the cartilage in his right knee was damaged.

He was initially judged to be out of action until next season, but his recovery has gone well, and he could be back playing on the pitch by the end of April.

Veteran defender Mitchell Weiser opined that Werder have lost their identity with their transfer plans, but Fritz disagrees.

“At the factual level, everything about criticism is okay. But it should never be personal. Especially hiding behind pseudonyms on the Internet bothers me,” the 45-year-old said in quotes revealed by Deichstube.

“There was an internal misunderstanding. Then the topic was in the world, and we made mistakes in communication to the outside world.

“I predicted it could get bumpy. I said: If we create value and run in as 14th on the table, then we took development steps, and everything is okay. We have developed players in a forward-looking way. Patrice Covic, Wesley Adeh, Salim Musah, Karim Coulibaly, Mick Schmetgens.

“Victor [Boniface] wouldn’t play 34 games, we knew that. That’s why our thought was: If we develop Keke Topp, but in Victor have the quality that we can share the playing time – that can work. From today’s point of view, this was a miscalculation,” Fritz concluded.

With six league games left to play, Werder Bremen are still not safe as they’re just three points above the relegation spots.