Kevin-Prince Boateng is the transfer flop of last winter in Barcelona. The former vice president of FC Barcelona Jordi Mestre explains the background.
Kevin-Prince Boateng’s move to FC Barcelona was the big transfer flop for the Catalans last winter.
Especially the former vice president of FC Barcelona Jordi Mestre was sharply criticized for the change. Now Mestre has defended himself and explained how the Boateng transfer came about in the first place.
Mestre as target of criticism
He knows that “the signatures of Boateng and Murillo (Jeison Murillo editor’s note) in the winter” were strongly criticized – but explains that the message of the association has always been “there is no money.
Boateng, who moved from Italian club US Sassuolo to FC Barcelona in early 2019, left Spain after only half a year.
During this time, the winter transfer came to just four compulsory matches. A sobering balance – both for Boateng themselves and for Barcelona.
Morata as an option for Boateng
In addition, the question arose in retrospect why he hadn’t brought Álvaro Morata into the team instead of Boateng.
Morata had been an option, but “according to the professionals, bringing Morata could have caused a possible conflict in the locker room. He would have wanted to play, not be a substitute.”
Unlike Boateng, who was already more than happy about the reserve role before the switch.
“I know I wasn’t signed as a regular,” he said then. “I’m here to use my experience, help out and watch Messi.”
Mestre also referred to the signing of star goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen. At the time, Barcelona would have wanted Thibaut Courtois to play the goal, but instead, ter Stegen came on the advice of Andoni Zubizarreta.
In making this decision, they had chosen the right player.