Former Barcelona forward, Kevin-Prince Boateng, has confessed that he falsely claimed Lionel Messi was the world’s best player in order to secure a spot with the Catalan club.
The former Ghana international disclosed that he had previously regarded Cristiano Ronaldo as the superior player but was pressured to endorse Messi as the best during a press conference in order to join the Spanish giants.
Boateng joined Barcelona on loan in January 2019, primarily serving as a backup striker for the latter part of the season and making just three appearances during his tenure.
“I supported Hertha Berlin where I was born and then, sorry Blaugrana, Barcelona fans will hate me now but Real Madrid,” he told FIVE UK.
“I couldn’t say that at the press conference because they told me you can’t say that, otherwise we can’t play you. Two years earlier when I was playing for Las Palmas, I said in a press conference that the best player in the world is Ronaldo and in the galaxy Messi.
“They say who is the best player in the world, you say Messi,” he said, drawing a hilarious reaction from Rio Ferdinand and 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.