Former AC Milan and Ghanaian international Kevin-Prince Boateng has revealed a surprising truth about his brief stint at Barcelona, admitting that he had to conceal his lifelong support for Real Madrid in order to join the Catalan giants.
Speaking on a recent podcast, Boateng explained, “I have been a huge Real Madrid fan since I was young. I always said that I wanted to play for Real Madrid, and people knew that before I signed for Barcelona.”
The former Las Palmas player recalled that two years prior to his loan move to Barcelona, he publicly named Cristiano Ronaldo as the world’s best player and Real Madrid as his favorite club.
“When I signed for Barcelona, they told me: Your favorite team is Barcelona, and the best player in the world is Lionel Messi. I had to lie at another press conference in order to play, and without that I would not have been able to play for Barcelona, it would have been impossible,” Boateng said.
He continued, reflecting on the awkward moment.
“I know this has happened to other players as well. I was sitting there at the press conference, and the first question I was asked was: Who is the best player in the world? And I answered: Lionel Messi,” Boateng recounted.
Boateng’s time at Barcelona was brief, lasting just half a season on loan in 2019, but the revelation sheds light on the unusual pressures players sometimes face when joining rival clubs.
Over his career, Boateng has played for a number of top European clubs, including AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund, Tottenham Hotspur, and Schalke 04.
