Former Ghanaian international, Kevin-Prince Boateng, has opened up about a fascinating aspect of his football career, disclosing that he was compelled to misrepresent his allegiance to Barcelona and hide his genuine support for Real Madrid when he joined the Catalan club.
The retired forward, who had previously been vocal about his affection for his childhood club Hertha Berlin and his admiration for Real Madrid, found himself on loan at Barcelona during the 2018/2019 season, leading to a complex situation.
During a recent appearance on the “Vibe with 5” podcast, Boateng admitted to his dual football loyalties.
“I’m a supporter of Hertha Berlin, my birthplace. Sorry to the Blaugrana fans; they might not like me now, but my heart belonged to Real Madrid,” Boateng confessed, acknowledging his true passion for the Madrid-based team.
However, Boateng also revealed the pressure he encountered upon joining Barcelona.
He explained how he was explicitly instructed not to publicly declare his allegiance to Real Madrid, even though it was his honest sentiment.
“I couldn’t say that during the press conference. They told me, ‘You must never say that, or you won’t be able to play.’ I asked, ‘What do you mean?’ And they replied, ‘No, you can’t say it.’ This was because, two years prior, I had an interview when I played for Las Palmas, where they asked me, ‘Who is the best player in the world?’ I replied, ‘In this world, Ronaldo, in the galaxy, Messi.’ When they inquired about my favourite club, I said, ‘Real Madrid.'”
In order to assimilate into the Barcelona environment, Boateng reluctantly concealed the truth.
“The first question I was asked when I joined Barcelona was ‘Which is your favourite club?’ I responded with ‘Barcelona.’ When they asked, ‘Who is the best player in the world?’ I said, ‘Messi.’ This was one of the biggest lies for me because I usually tell the truth. However, in this case, I had to lie because I wanted the chance to wear the Barcelona shirt at least once at Camp Nou. I believe everyone can understand that,” Boateng explained.
In addition to this revelation, Boateng recently experienced a profound personal transformation by embracing Christianity and being baptized in Germany.
He shared this transformative experience on social media, declaring his faith and expressing his newfound commitment.
