Boateng reveals Barca ’forced’ him to lie Messi is the best in the world whereas he prefers Ronaldo

Football star Kevin-Prince Boateng has revealed he was 'forced' to lie and say Lionel Messi was the best player in the world when he joined Barcelona otherwise he 'wouldn't play'.

Speaking on Rio Ferdinand's VIBE with FIVE podcast, Boateng claimed it was 'one of the biggest lies of my life' as he had always supported Real Madrid growing up and 'loved' Cristiano Ronaldo.

'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,' he told the podcast.

'Normally I always tell the truth, but I lied because it was the only way to wear the Barcelona shirt. 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 also added: 'He [Messi] is the captain but doesn't speak. We spoke one time in the shower because he asked if it was 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.'

Boateng, whose former clubs include Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth F.C., and AC Milan, joined Barcelona on loan in January 2019 from Sassuolo.

The Ghanaian footballer only played five matches for the Spanish giants and scored no goals but won the La Liga.

Ronaldo joined Juventus in 2018 and scored 101 goals in 134 appearances before returning to Manchester United in 2021.

Boateng also aimed a dig at Erik ten Hag by claiming he isn't good enough to lead Manchester United and accusing him of disrespecting Ronaldo.

The Portuguese star left Old Trafford last December after criticising both the club and Ten Hag in a Piers Morgan interview after he lost his regular place in the team.

United finished third in the Premier League and won the Carabao Cup following his departure with Ronaldo now playing his football in Saudi Arabia.

But Ten Hag's side have made a terrible start to the new campaign, losing four of their opening seven Premier League games to sit mid-table.

And former Barcelona, AC Milan and Tottenham player Boateng has claimed Ten Hag isn't up to the job.

'I think he's got to go. From what I'm seeing, there's no energy,' he said on Rio Ferdinand's Vibe with Five show.

'What he did to Ronaldo and all that stuff, I don't think he is on that

level to coach Manchester United.

'The team is not the best, you have to be honest. They have some good players but they're not the best. But still, there's no fire.

'You come to Old Trafford there's no pace, no one gets angry, no one puts in passion and fire. And if my players don't do that, as the coach, I have to do that.'

Pushed further by Ferdinand on his Ronaldo remarks, Boateng said: 'He was the top scorer and he just kicked him out. He just went against the best player in the team, you don't do that.

'You have to give him respect. There's ways to let a player off and I think he chose the wrong way.'