|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Claim: A viral Facebook post by Mr Rayband asserts that Nigerian Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface has officially joined Cristiano Ronaldo’s Saudi club Al-Nassr, earning a €15 million annual salary (over ₦24 billion), with salary breakdowns by day, week, and month.
Verdict: Misleading. While credible reports early in the year speculated about such a move, including figures like a €15 million net salary, the transfer never materialised. Boniface remained at Bayer Leverkusen after the deal collapsed.
Full Text
The viral video from Facebook grabbed attention with bold salary claims and flashy figures, suggesting Victor Boniface had sealed a blockbuster transfer to Saudi giants, Al-Nassr. The narrative promises astronomical wages and a new chapter playing alongside Ronaldo.
Given Boniface’s rising profile, such a story is compelling and ripe for sharing. However, the post presents speculation as fact. There is no official confirmation that he joined Al-Nassr or received a €15 million annual salary. Instead, the proposed deal fell apart before a final agreement was reached.
Verification
When DUBAWA investigated, the following emerged:
Official Website of Bayer 04 Leverkusen and Bundesliga
The official website of Bayer 04 Leverkusen lists Boniface as a player, wearing the number 22 jersey. This indicates that the alleged move to Al-Nassr was misleading. The player still plays for Bayer Leverkusen and was involved in their pre-season games. If the suspected move had happened, he wouldn’t be on Bayer Leverkusen’s team on their website, nor would he be a registered player in the Bundesliga Player’s profile.
Official Instagram handle of Victor Boniface
The Official Instagram account of Victor Boniface still has him as a Bayer Leverkusen player, with one of his latest posts showing the caption “win a Boniface signed jersey,” and the jersey displayed was his number 22 Leverkusen jersey.
Leverkusen’s public statement
Bayer Leverkusen’s managing director and head coach confirmed that Boniface remained part of their squad. Al-Nassr never triggered the final purchase option, and the player returned to training with the club (WELT report). Despite several reports of such a move, Boniface’s deal with Al-Nassr did not go through.
No Official Announcement by Either Party
Neither Al-Nassr nor Victor Boniface issued any confirmation of a transfer or contract. No club platform, press release, or Boniface statement corroborated the viral claim. As of a recent update, Fabrizio Romano, one of the most trusted football sources for transfers, posted on Twitter about a move for Victor Boniface to Inter Milan. This indicates that the player remains at Leverkusen, as the deal with Al-Nassr has not been finalized.
Why DUBAWA Fact-Checked This
The claim mixes realistic figures with speculation, making it appear credible. Victor Boniface is currently one of Africa’s best strikers, and any report of him leaving Bayer Leverkusen for Saudi Arabia would spark broad debate on the continent, whether the move was driven by money or career choices. Given his rising profile, such misinformation could mislead fans, distort perceptions, and fuel unnecessary controversy, hence the need for fact-checking.
Conclusion
Victor Boniface was never officially signed by Al-Nassr. Although salary figures and medical visits made headlines, the transfer did not happen. The portrayal of the deal as complete and the €15 million salary as confirmed is misleading. Boniface remains with Bayer Leverkusen, and any suggestion to the contrary is based on outdated speculation rather than fact.
