Boniface, Xhaka inspired Alonzo’s stay with Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen’s Nigerian forward Victor Boniface celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal in their German Bundesliga football match against Werder Bremen on April 14, 2024. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP)

German champion, Bayer Leverkusen, has said that their star players, including Nigeria’s Victor Boniface, are part of the reasons Coach Xabi Alonzo agreed to stay and nurture the club’s project.

Alonzo was courted by some of Europe’s biggest clubs, including his former clubs, Bayern Munich, and Liverpool, following his masterclass in leading the ‘nearly men’ to their first Bundesliga title.
Leverkusen is also in the German Cup final as well as the quarterfinal of the Europa Cup, in which they will face West Ham in the second leg of their tie tomorrow.

The German side won the first leg at home 2-0 with Boniface scoring one of the goals. The Super Eagles star also opened the goals floodgate when they defeated Werder Bremen 5-0 to confirm their first-ever Bundesliga title on Sunday. The club is unbeaten in all competitions this season.

Speaking to Caughtoffside.com at the weekend, Italian football authority, Fabrizio Romano said the job Alonzo has done with the team is underrated, adding that the club has ensured that nothing would stop the current project under the Spanish coach. A number of Leverkusen’s star names have been linked with bigger clubs in recent times, but Romano said the club would only allow one major sale.

“It’s been a fantastic job by Xabi Alonso – underrated in my opinion, as Xabi took over in October 2022 and in just 18 months they’ve been able to go from second bottom to first in the league and winning the Bundesliga in style with zero defeats, dominating since day one,” Romano said.

“It’s