Werder Bremen legends Claudio Pizarro and Martin Harnik have thrown their support behind Victor Boniface, insisting the Nigerian striker will come good despite a frustrating, goalless start to life in the Bundesliga.
Boniface, on loan from Bayer Leverkusen, has yet to find the net in his first nine appearances for Werder a run that has sparked questions over form, confidence and fitness. But two of the club’s most prolific former forwards believe the 24 year old simply needs time and freedom to rediscover his spark.
Harnik, who began his career at Bremen before spells with Stuttgart, Hannover and Hamburg, told DeichStube that Boniface reminds him of ex Germany international Max Kruse a player who thrived when trusted.
“He’s a special character,” Harnik said. “Like Max Kruse, he needs as much freedom as possible. If you let him off the leash, he’s incredibly creative and will help the team.”
Pizarro, a bona fide Werder icon with 153 goals to his name, urged patience, pointing to his own blistering start when he arrived in 1999.
“He’s in a difficult phase, but he just has to keep working to show his quality again,” the former Peru international insisted. “If he gets one goal, hopefully many more will follow. It would be important for both him and the club.”
Boniface has had a testing spell at the Weser Stadium, battling weight issues, dietary adjustments, fitness concerns and the growing pressure of expectations a stark contrast to his explosive rise last season, when he claimed the 2024 Bundesliga Rookie of the Year award.
Werder remain confident that a breakthrough is coming. And with two of the club’s most respected former strikers backing him publicly, the message is clear: stick with Boniface the goals will arrive.