The Ghana international says he has patched up with the ‘critical’ Ghanaian press and plans to build a school in his father’s hometown Kumasi to ‘get closer to the people’

Schalke midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng believes that he has mended the strained relationship between him and Ghanaians following his premature international retirement in 2011.

Boateng was an instant hero in Ghana during the 2010 World Cup following his exploits and a goal against the US, but Ghanaians felt he stabbed them in the back when he failed to turn up for continental games on perceived health grounds.

The German-born Ghanaian reversed his decision in 2013 just in time for another World Cup creating a love-hate relationship with the local fans. However, he managed a goal in his comeback game against Egypt in the 2014 World Cup play-offs.

“It was critically spoken of,” the 27-year-old said about his retirement in an exclusive chat with Goal Germany’s Hassan Talib. “The press in Ghana is even worse than in Germany. They are very critical but after my goal in Egypt I was hailed, and now all of them love me. Now the World Cup is here, they know they need me and that's why we are an amorous couple again.”

Touching on his return to the Black Stars setup, he said: “I was received very well. I made a lot of calls with Asamoah Gyan, our skipper, our coach, our president. They all said they waited for my return. They were all glad and happy that I am back again.”

The former AC Milan star also spoke about his plans to deepen the bondage between him and the locals, revealing that he plans building a school in Ghana’s second largest city Kumasi.

“I have my family there, from my father's side. I am on the phone with my uncle regularly. I want to build a school in the area where my father has been born in Kumasi. I am doing that all alone with my fiancée. I am trying to get closer.

“People are happy in Ghana. That's what's always astonishing me, there are a lot of people that don't have much, but are happy nevertheless. It's just nice to see how the people are dancing on the streets, how they celebrate. They are just always happy. If you walk around in Germany you see people with their heads down, though they are so rich, not only in terms of money but in terms of everything. And then you see the people in Ghana and see that they are happy,” Boateng opined.

The Ghana international is part of the provisional 26-man panel coach Kwesi Appiah announced for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.