Boateng’s Unexpected Transfer to Barcelona
A Surprise Loan Move
Kevin-Prince Boateng, 38, made headlines in 2019 when he completed an unexpected loan transfer from the Italian club Sassuolo to FC Barcelona. During his stint with the Catalan giants, he featured in only four matches.
Loan Terms
The arrangement included a clause that allowed Barcelona the option to purchase Boateng for €8 million. However, the club ultimately chose not to pursue this option.
Messi’s Influence
In a recent episode of the podcast Unscripted, Boateng disclosed that Lionel Messi’s approval was crucial for the transfer to proceed.
Boateng’s Account:
At that moment, there were two sporting directors. One was Eric Abidal, who expressed interest, and so did another director. The president, Bartomeu, and coach, Valverde, were also in favor, so I felt ready to sign immediately. However, they told me I needed to wait for Leo’s approval first.
Messi held significant sway in the club. I went to bed that night hoping he would endorse my transfer. If he had said no, I wouldn’t have joined Barcelona.