Former Ghanaian midfielder, Kevin-Prince Boateng has confessed that he lied about Lionel Messi being the best player in the world so he could wear the Barcelona jersey.
The former AC Milan star played alongside the Argentine veteran during his loan spell at the Catalan giants in the 2018/19 season.
Boateng famously declared Messi as the best footballer he ever played alongside following his first training session with the reigning La Liga champions.
However, in an interview with the FIVE UK podcast, Boateng disclosed that he was compelled to say Messi was the best in order to continue as a Barca player.
"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," he added.
"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.
Boateng played with some of the greatest footballers in the world during his professional career, including Ronaldinho and Zlatan Ibrahimovic at AC Milan.
The German-born Ghanaian announced his retirement from the sport in August this year.
