Football players often express positive sentiments about their new club when they join. While some of these statements genuinely reflect their warm affection for the club, others may simply reflect their effort towards political correctness to win the fans’ love and support.
It’s not uncommon for new players to make statements like, “It is the club of my dreams; I have dreamt of joining this club since my childhood days,” only to depart from the club on less favourable terms eventually. Kevin-Prince Boateng claims that his expression of Messi’s footballing supremacy was only compelled, never intentional.
Boateng explains his Lionel Messi lie
Former Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng has admitted to lying that Lionel Messi was the world’s best player solely to have the opportunity to wear the Barcelona jersey.
Kevin-Prince Boateng, who was most famous for his exploits at AC Milan, had also once played alongside Lionel Messi in their time at Barcelona. Now Boateng has retired from football, but the Argentine World Cup and Ballon d’Or winner is still going strong at Inter Miami at the the age of 36.
To many football fans, it may not really count what Kevin-Prince Boateng thinks of Lionel Messi’s career because many facts and evidence already identify him as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, in the game’s history.
After his initial training session with the reigning La Liga champions, Boateng gained notoriety when he declared Lionel Messi the best footballer he had ever played alongside. However, during an interview with the FIVE UK podcast, Boateng revealed that he felt obligated to proclaim Messi as the best player in order to secure his position as a Barcelona player.
š£ļø Kevin-Prince Boateng: āWho did I support? Hertha Berlin where I was born and sorry Barcelona fans will hate me now but then Real Madrid.
— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) October 2, 2023
I couldnāt say that in the press conference. They told me never say that because otherwise we canāt play you (laughs). Literally, becauseā¦ pic.twitter.com/xzeAMuZ0Je
During the interview, Boateng humorously mentioned, “They say who is the best player in the world, you say, Messi,” which elicited an amusing reaction from Rio Ferdinand and the rest of the crew.
“This is one of the biggest lies because I usually say the truth, but this one, I had to lie because I wanted to put on the shirt for one time at Camp Nou,” he added.
Boateng announced retirement in August
Kevin-Prince Boateng announced his retirement from football at the age of 36. The former Ghana international decided to hang up his boots after an illustrious career that saw him represent 15 different clubs across Europe.
Kevin Prince Boateng confirms that he was forced to say that Messi is the Goat when he signed for Barca ššš
— KALYJAY (@gyaigyimii) October 2, 2023
pic.twitter.com/2yZPxJWVhY
He started his professional career with Hertha Berlin; he then travelled around Europe playing for AC Milan, Besiktas, Barcelona, Sassuolo, Portsmouth, Tottenham and Schalke 04.
In his illustrious footballing career, he scored a total of 76 goals in 502 appearances. In his parting words from football, he said, “I love you. But thatās a wrap for me. Thank you, football, for everything.” Accompanying these words was an emotional Instagram video of his career highlights.
