AC Milan have been linked with a number of strikers already ahead of the summer transfer window, but Victor Boniface is one of the most intriguing profiles.
Olivier Giroud and Zlatan Ibrahimovic aren’t getting any younger and Milan need to plan for the future, especially with Divock Origi having struggled since his arrival on a free transfer from Liverpool last summer.
Match Center online betting sites offered odds for several picks, and late last month, Tuttosport reported that the Rossoneri have around five specific targets on their wish list for that role, with links to players like Jonathan David and Folarin Balogun who are starring in Ligue 1 as well as more experienced options such as Alvaro Morata and Mauro Icardi.
One name that emerged that not as much was known about was Victor Boniface. Daniele Longo stated that the agents of the forward – who plays for Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise – have offered their client to the Rossoneri.
Boniface, a Nigerian striker, aged 22, has scored 20 goals across all competitions this season and has helped his side reach the quarter-finals of the Europa League in which they are playing Bayer Leverkusen. He would cost €10m, as per the report.
Given that Boniface could well go on to represent Nigeria at international level, it would be fair to say that he is proud of where he comes from and recognises that his roots were back with Real Sapphire.
There are many other young talents in Africa’s most populated country who are looking to follow in the footsteps of players like Boniface as well as Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osmihen, Terem Moffi, Ademola Lookman and others who made the leap to Europe and now represent the Super Eagles.
Humble Beginnings
Boniface started his career in the youth academy of Lagos-based club Real Sapphire, who are actually owned by Frank Peterson, a UK-based Nigerian businessman and football proprietor .
A lot of European clubs scout talent in Africa to try and then bring them over to develop further, and it was in March 2019 that Bodo/Glimt – the same club Milan signed Jens Petter Hauge from – secured the signing of Boniface.
However, things did not start well as he sustained a serious ligament injury only two weeks after signing for the Norwegian club, which kept him out for nearly the duration of the 2019 season.
A debut for Glimt did eventually arrive and he would go on to amass 23 goals and 8 assists in 66 games for them before joining Union Saint-Gilloise, one of the rising projects in Belgium.
Boniface began to earn international recognition as he was selected for the Nigeria U20 squad to play the 2019 U20 African Cup of Nations, but had to withdraw from the squad due to injury.
If what Tuttosport and Daniele Longo reported is true and Milan are keen on signing Boniface, then it would be interesting to see if he can emulate Osimhen and become the next big thing in Serie A.
