'I had to lie that Messi is the best player in order to play for Barca'

When Kevin-Prince Boateng signed for Barcelona on a loan in January 2019, he was over the moon and told his teammates from Sassuolo that he could go to Barcelona running, and not taking a plane to get him there. He stated that 'it's a gift to be able to play with Messi, Suarez and company, because just seeing them play is worth it“. Four years later, now retired player all of a sudden 'confessed' that he was always Real and Cristiano Ronaldo fan and had to lie that Messi is the best player!

Former Ghana international (switched from Germany) had a colorful career and played for Hertha, Tottenham, Borussia, Milan, Schalke, Barcelona, Fiorentina and many others, but in 2019, he had an unsuccessful episode in Catalonia, and went back to Italy after only six months. And now, speaking for Rio Ferdinand's podcast 'VIBE with FIVE', he 'remembered' how it was in Spain.

"They immediately asked me in Barcelona who was the best and I had to say it was Lionel Messi; I lied. It was one of the biggest lies of my life. I love Cristiano Ronaldo. But they told me I had to say that, otherwise I wouldn't play. I'm sorry for the Barca fans, but I always supported Real Madrid when I was a teenager" he revealed.

'Brining back Ronaldo was a mistake'

Interesting statement, and somewhat a serious accusation against those in the club at the time. It's really hard to believe that any club official would blackmail the player with Messi, only to let him play. But Boateng is sticking with his story and even revealed that the Argentinian asked him is it hard to score goals in Italy, where Ronaldo was playing at the time.

"Messi was the captain, but he didn't talk much in the locker room. We spoke once in the showers and he asked me if it was difficult to score goals in Italy, because Cristiano Ronaldo was there at the time. He showed the rivalry he had. I told him that it was more difficult with Ronaldo there and that it took him three years to score in each game. “People too easily forget what he did there” he said.

Ronaldo's 'massively high standards' were a problem in Manchester

In fact, the Ghanaian footballer is so mesmerized with Ronaldo, he even called for current United coach Erik ten Hag to leave the club.

"Ten Hag has to leave Manchester United, especially after what he did to Cristiano Ronaldo. He does not have the right level to coach Manchester United. Imagine the situation of having a goalscorer on the roster and you simply fire him. Go against the best player on the team? It can't be, there has to be respect for him” Boateng added.

Wednesday

19:45: (1.63) Atl.Madrid (4.00) Feyenoord (6.25)

19:45: (1.90) Antwerp (3.70) Shakhtar (4.40)

22:00: (3.00) Celtic (3.50) Lazio (2.45)

22:00: (2.40) Dortmund (3.50) Milan (3.05)

22:00: (2.50) Newcastle (3.60) PSG (2.90)

22:00: (2.20) Crvena Zvezda (3.50) Young Boys (3.45)

22:00: (5.40) RB Leipzig (4.10) Man.City (1.67)

22:00: (4.20) Porto (3.60) Barcelona (1.95)

***odds are subject to change***