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It's a tale almost too wild to believe: a dedicated Real Madrid fan, an ardent admirer of Cristiano Ronaldo, finds himself forced to publicly pledge allegiance to Barcelona and declare Lionel Messi the greatest. This was the extraordinary, and somewhat uncomfortable, reality for Kevin-Prince Boateng during his brief stint at Camp Nou.
Key Takeaways
- Kevin-Prince Boateng was a lifelong Real Madrid supporter and Cristiano Ronaldo loyalist.
- Upon his 2019 loan move to Barcelona, he was reportedly instructed to praise Lionel Messi and disregard his past allegiances in press conferences.
- Messi apparently wielded significant power over player transfers, even influencing who joined the squad.
- While awestruck by Messi's unparalleled talent, Boateng observed how his seemingly casual pre-game routine could negatively impact younger players like Malcom and Ousmane Dembele.
A Blanco's Unexpected Blaugrana Journey
Kevin-Prince Boateng's career has been nothing short of a whirlwind, but few chapters are as eyebrow-raising as his 2019 move to Barcelona. A self-confessed childhood fan of Real Madrid, Boateng openly idolized Cristiano Ronaldo, who he revered as a five-time Ballon d’Or winner and the legendary goal-scorer for Los Blancos.
Yet, stepping into the hallowed halls of Camp Nou meant entering a different kingdom entirely. Here, Lionel Messi reigned supreme, an undeniable footballing deity. Questioning his supremacy, or even hinting at admiration for his greatest rival, was simply not an option.
The Press Conference Ultimatum
Boateng quickly learned the unwritten rules of Barcelona during his pre-unveiling briefing. He candidly shared on Unscripted by Josh Mansour that he was given an explicit instruction. “I had to lie in a press conference because prior to that, two years before when I played in Las Palmas, they asked me who my favourite player was and I said Cristiano Ronaldo and I said my favourite team was Real Madrid!” he explained.
The message from the Barcelona hierarchy was clear: "They said to me ‘your favourite team is Barcelona and the best player in the world is Lionel Messi’. They said ‘you have to otherwise you can’t play here, it is impossible’.” Facing this ultimatum, Boateng had no choice. When asked who the world's best was, his answer was an unequivocal, if forced, "Lionel Messi."
Messi's Unseen Influence in the Transfer Market
Boateng's arrival at Barcelona from Italian side Sassuolo was reportedly not just any transfer; it came with Messi's personal seal of approval. The Argentine maestro, it seems, held immense sway over who joined the squad.
“He had that power,” Boateng revealed. “I was going to sleep hoping that Leo likes me or sees me in the team. I was like tomorrow I can sign my shirt with Barcelona, but if Leo says ‘no’ I will not be going to sign the contract!” It paints a vivid picture of Messi's unparalleled stature within the club.
The Paradox of Genius: Messi's Double-Edged Impact
Boateng's time alongside Messi offered a unique, behind-the-scenes look at one of football's greatest. What he witnessed was a blend of awe-inspiring talent and a surprising insight into the culture of the dressing room.
The Awe-Inspiring Talent
Despite his enduring admiration for Ronaldo, Boateng admitted that Messi's abilities on the training pitch were truly mind-boggling. Speaking to DAZN in 2020, he confessed: “Training with Messi left me speechless. I had always said that Cristiano Ronaldo was the best in the world, but Messi is something else. He's not normal.” The sheer brilliance made him question his own place in the sport: “While training with him, I felt inadequate for the first time in my career... I felt like saying, 'I'm done, I'm going to quit playing!'”
The Unintended Consequence
However, Messi's incredible talent came with an unexpected side effect, as Boateng recounted on Rio Ferdinand Presents. Messi's famously relaxed pre-game routine – phone calls, massages, last-minute boot-lacing – was a testament to his innate ability. “Two minutes before we go out, he just stands up, closes his boots, and goes out,” Boateng explained, marveling at how Messi could then score "goal, goal, goal."
This seemingly effortless approach, while working for Messi, proved detrimental for some of Barcelona's younger talents. Boateng noted: “That's what the young players did in Barcelona: Malcom, Ousmane Dembele, they looked at him and they didn't train so then going to the game, they got injured. He's the only one in the world that can do that.” It highlights the unique burden and responsibility that comes with being an unreplicable genius.
A Short Stint, A Lasting Impression
Kevin-Prince Boateng's Barcelona adventure was fleeting, with only four appearances before he returned to Italy. However, his candid reflections offer a fascinating window into the inner workings of one of football's biggest clubs and the towering presence of its greatest ever player, Lionel Messi. His nomadic career saw him represent a host of clubs, including Tottenham, AC Milan, and Schalke, before his retirement in 2023.
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