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The Ghanaian international could finally taste the success that has largely escaped his career
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Whatever the safe transfer of other African players before the January window closes, nothing will be more shocking – or convincing – than Kevin-Prince Boateng's Barcelona.
The Ghanaian international's career as a nomad took a fascinating new step last week when the 31-year-old joined the Spanish giants with a loan of the season with the option of signing a permanent contract.
Although he did not make his debut in La Liga against Girona on Sunday, while Prince was an unused substitute, he was already representing his new employer, playing 63 minutes in the 2-0 defeat to Copa del Rey on Wednesday. , in Seville.
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It's only a matter of time before Prince returns to the high-flying Spanish competition, potentially when Valencia comes to Nou camp on Saturday, and ends on a strange trajectory.
When the midfielder finally plays, he will have played for two clubs in four of the five major leagues in Europe.
In Spain, England, Germany and Italy, he represented one of the traditional heavyweights of the highest level, and a less important light, a rare and unique career path.
In Germany, he played for Borussia Dortmund earlier in his career, between stays with Hertha Berlin, Schalke 04 and Eintracht Frankfurt.
In Italy, the midfielder won the Italian title with AC Milan in 2011 and spent the first half of this season with the Sbaduolo handcuff.
In England, he managed only 14 league games with Tottenham Hotspur, but reached the FA Cup final on loan to Portsmouth.
Now in Spain, where Prince has already experienced life with Las Palmas, where he became in 2016 the only active player to have scored in four of the five major leagues in Europe – and, imminently, with Barcelona.
This is a remarkable run for the veteran, but despite the various elevated hallways he has vaunted so far, the honors have been relatively rare.
This 2010-11 Serie A title is his only league winner medal to date. He also won the Italian Super Cup during his stay in Milan and, last year, the German Cup in Frankfurt.
In Milan, he realized his potential with a place in the 2011 team of Series A, which made desserts for a talent rewarded twice by the prestigious Fritz Walter medal for his promise of a child in Germany.
In general, however, it is a meager return, and nothing is completed by his career in Ghana.
With no cap since 2014, Prince's tumultuous days with the Black Stars have included two World Cups, including this great race in the last eight of the 2010 season, but he has never competed in the African Cup of Nations.
Certainly, neither at the international level nor at the level of the club – in spite of the heavyweights which it represents – never deserved the honors of Boateng.
However, this should now change to Barca, who is leading the La Liga and still competing in both the Champions League and the Spanish Cup.
The fact that Boateng arrived at Nou camp mainly as a reinforcing attacker is also revealing.
He is a player who has made a name for himself as a strong, dynamic, technically competent and tenacious box-to-box midfielder, marrying both the pace of work and the quality of the game to flourish at the same time. heart of the park.
However, by the time the Continental Companion arrives as the pinnacle of his career, his role has been completely changed.
In Spain, with Las Palmas and lately in Sbaduolo, he thrived as a solo attacker, capable of leading the line or sinking deeper to serve as a fake 9, connecting midfield and attack.
His natural talent lends itself perfectly to this role. Boateng's pace of work sets the defensive tone, directs the press and creates space when his team is in possession of the ball.
In an African context, among the players of his generation, he is undoubtedly underestimated in terms of natural talent and he is rarely discussed among the best African players in the world today.
"I'm very happy," he told Sky Sport. "It's a great honor for me to be here and to have the opportunity to play for this great club.
"For all children who are starting to play football, it's a great dream to play for a club like Barcelona, for all football players and especially for me, it's a big dream come true." .
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"I will try to give everything for this club, everyone knows how I play, I know my strength, but I just want to put everything and try to help the club."
Perhaps if he can increase his honor in six months – or more – in Barca, the story around Prince could change.
Perhaps the talented operator, if he is troubled, will have the chance to win the career final he deserves.
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