Lionel Messi performed for FC Barcelona for 17 seasons, from 2004 to 2021. Throughout that point, his affect inside the membership grew alongside his status as a participant, giving him important decision-making energy over sure facets of the crew, in keeping with a former participant.
Kevin-Prince Boateng gave an interview this week to Unscripted with Josh Mansour, the place he mirrored on totally different moments of his skilled profession, together with his temporary stint with the Catalan aspect. There, he described an uncommon expertise that illustrates how choices had been made on the membership at the moment.
“Earlier than I went to Barcelona, that they had two sporting administrators. One in every of them was Eric Abidal. He stated, ‘Sure, we would like you,’” Boateng started. “Then the opposite sporting director stated, ‘We wish you.’ The president stated, ‘We wish you.’ The coach says, ‘We wish you.’ And I stated, ‘Good, I’m gonna signal tomorrow.’ They stated, ‘No, we have to converse to Leo first.’”
Boateng admitted he was shocked by the scenario. “I used to be like, ‘What you imply?’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, we have to converse to Leo,’” the Ghanaian ahead recalled. “He had that energy. So I used to be going to sleep hoping that Leo likes me or sees me within the crew. I used to be like, ‘Tomorrow, I can signal my shirt with Barcelona, but when Leo says no, I might not signal my contract.’”
Kevin-Prince Boateng enjoying for Barcelona.
Ultimately, Messi’s approval got here via, and Boateng joined the crew. “I awakened within the morning and so they stated, ‘All good.’ And I used to be like, ‘Ohh, OK!’” he recalled. Nevertheless, the expertise was short-lived, because the ahead performed solely 4 matches with Barcelona in 2018 earlier than shifting to Fiorentina.
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Boateng on Messi’s conduct at Barcelona
These six months at FC Barcelona left little mark on Boateng’s profession, however they gave him perception into the day-to-day lifetime of the Argentine celebrity. “Messi, cool man,” he stated in the identical interview. “Very quiet. He solely speaks together with his toes on the sphere, which I like as a result of lots of people speak lots however don’t carry out.”
Concerning his private expertise with Messi, Kevin-Prince was candid. “He’s very quiet, he chooses who to speak to, very selective. However me and him, we had been cool. He hugged me, stated ‘Welcome, so good to see you.’ I used to be shocked, ‘Wow, OK,’” the Ghanaian ahead recalled.
Boateng weighs in on Messi’s potential Barcelona return
The interview with Boateng comes amid rising hypothesis a few potential return of Lionel Messi to FC Barcelona, fueled by Leo’s shock go to to Camp Nou. When requested a few potential second stint for the Argentine ahead on the membership, Boateng expressed optimism.
“He might, as a result of the way in which he performs, he might nonetheless play 5 years,” Kevin-Prince stated. As an example, he drew a comparability with one other soccer celebrity: “As a result of the crew round him performs for him. It’s a distinct manner of enjoying, like Cristiano for instance.”
As Boateng factors out, Messi’s athletic capacity doesn’t seem like an impediment to imagining a return to FC Barcelona. As an alternative, contractual issues signify the principle problem, contemplating Messi’s present contract with Inter Miami runs via December 2028.
