"I lied to play for Barca, I prefer CR7 to Messi"

After an 18-year career, Kevin-Prince Boateng decided to hang up his boots at the end of the 2022/23 campaign. The playmaker, who has had spells at Barcelona and AC Milan, among others, spoke about his time at the Catalan side on Rio Ferdinand's 'VIBE with FIVE' podcast.

The former midfielder admitted that he was forced to say Lionel Messi was the best player in the world in order to play for Barcelona. However, that was not his opinion.

"I remember that when I arrived in Barcelona they immediately asked me who the best player in the world was. I had to say it was Lionel Messi, I lied. It was one of the biggest lies of my life. Normally I always tell the truth, but I lied because it was the only way to wear the Barcelona shirt," he claimed. 

"I always supported Real Madrid when I was a teenager. I love Cristiano Ronaldo. But they told me I had to say that, otherwise I wouldn't play," he revealed.

Moreover, the 36-year-old also spoke about what it was like to share a dressing room with the Argentinian star: "He [Messi] is the captain but doesn't speak. We spoke one time in the shower because he asked if it's difficult to score in Italy because Ronaldo was there at that time, and he showed the rivalry between them.

"I told him that it was more difficult that Ronaldo was there, and he scored every game for three years. People forget too easily what he's done there," he added.