“I Watch a Lot of Cristiano” – Now Tearing Bundesliga Apart, Victor Boniface Draws Inspiration From Al Nassr’s Cristiano Ronaldo

When it comes to relentlessly watching Cristiano Ronaldo videos, even star players are no outliers. Fans watch such videos to be mesmerized by poetic gameplay. Players, on the other hand, look for lessons and inspirations. Bayer Leverkusen’s star striker Victor Boniface learnt some skills of the trade by observing the five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s game, in his journey from a midfielder to a forward.

Victor Boniface is now the crown jewel of the Bayer Leverkusen forward fleet. He scores with ruthless efficiency and provides with grace. And the Nigerian striker is on the charts for both scorers and providers in Germany’s Bundesliga. Boniface recently recalled how Ronaldo played a part in his impressive journey.

Cristiano Ronaldo footages were textbooks for Boniface, a striker in the making

Having played in Nigeria till 2019, Victor Boniface has always had an eye on big European clubs and players. In his recent appearance on ‘The Obi One Podcast,’ he laid bare the clubs and the players he idolized. He loved Arsenal and, being an erstwhile midfielder, looked up to fellow midfielders.

“I watch these videos just to get out in tight spaces. So I watch a lot of dribblers. As a striker my mind is on Cristiano. I watch a lot of Cristiano. Right when I was young, I was never a striker. But they changed me a few months before coming to Europe,” said Victor Boniface.

Drawing inspiration from Cristiano Ronaldo, the midfielder turned striker shined in Norway and Belgium during his first two stints in Europe. But he saw a meteoric rise after joining Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen. Leverkusen are now table toppers in the German league. And, Boniface’s exploits have been at the heart of the side’s dream run.

Victor Boniface channels his inner Ronaldo for Leverkusen

Boniface hit the ground running in Germany. The 23-year-old has scored 10 goals from 16 league matches this season. Now he is the fourth leading goal-scorer of this Bundesliga season. Meanwhile, the Nigerian has provided seven assists, becoming the player with the second-most assists.

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Outside the league, Boniface has scored six times and assisted once in seven matches. This means the player can bloom where he is planted. Now that the Leverkusen-based outfit is sitting comfortably in the first position, the next UEFA Champions League is likely to see Boniface in action this year. That is when we will see if the player can truly emulate Mr. Champions League.

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