Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published Sunday, November 30, 2025, 3:41 p.m. / Updated Sunday, November 30, 2025, 3:52 p.m.
Kevin Prince Boateng (38), the attacking midfielder who retired in the summer of 2023 from Hertha Berlin, told how the move to FC Barcelona went in January 2019. “Messi had that power. I went to bed dreaming that Leo would appreciate me and see me as part of the team,” confessed the former Ghanaian international.
Boateng played 2019 at Sassuolo, where he arrived after two short stops at Las Palmas and Eintracht Frankfurt, always transferred free of contract after parting with AC Milan. Everyone was puzzled by the choice made by Barcelona in January of that year.
Boateng came to Barcelona on loan until the summer, as a back-up solution for Luis Suarez in attack. The figures of the new Catalan were quite modest in the Italian team.
Boateng: “Perfect, does that mean I will sign with Barcelona tomorrow?”. “Not yet, we need to talk to Leo first!”
The Ghanaian managed 4 goals in 13 games in the 2018-2019 Serie A season, and he scored the last one three months before his move to Spain!
Kevin Prince Boateng has been a meteoric arrival at Barcelona. The Ghanaian only played 303 minutes in 4 matches / Photo: Imago
The former player of Dortmund, AC Milan and Fiorentina gave an interview to Unscripted, in which he revealed how much influence Messi had at FC Barcelona. In order for the Ghanaian to arrive at Camp Nou, the approval of the Argentine star was needed.
I was very happy. “Perfect, does that mean I'll sign tomorrow?”. “No, we need to talk to Leo first!” I was told. I asked “What do you mean?”. And that official warned me: “Yes, we need to talk to Leo”
– Kevin Prince Boatengformer Barcelona forward
Boateng: “I woke up in the morning and they told me laconically that “everything is fine”. Messi agreed. I breathed a sigh of relief”
“Before I left for Barcelona, I spoke with the two sporting directors. Eric Abidal told me “Yes, we want you”. The other confirmed: “We want you to come to us”. I then talked to the president (no – Josep Maria Bartomeu) and heard the same thing. The coach also sent “We want you!”
After returning to Sassuolo, Kevin Prince Boateng also played for Fiorentina, Beşiktaş, Monza and Hertha / Photo: Imago
Boateng admitted in the quoted interview that the Argentine had this power: I went to bed hoping that Leo would like me or consider me useful for the team.
I said to myself that “tomorrow I can sign the contract with Barcelona. But if Leo says no, I won't have this chance». It was not a comfortable feeling at all.”
2goals and an assist Kevin Prince Boateng managed in the duels with Barcelona. Both goals for AC Milan in the Champions League, including in the 2-0 win at San Siro, where he opened the scoring in the 2012-13 round of 16, with Messi up against
In the end, Messi's approval came through, so Boateng signed a six-month contract and joined the Blaugrana team: “I woke up in the morning and they told me laconically that “everything is fine”. I breathed a sigh of relief!”.
