Ghana’s new soccer sensation, Kevin Prince Boateng, whose smashing performance at the World Cup has catapulted him to fame, has described his move to Italy’s A.C Milan as a dream come true.
The 23-year-old hit the front page of Italy’s leading sports newspaper,’ La Gazzette dello Sport’, when he granted an interview to the paper after signing for Milan. The front page of the paper showed Boateng sitting on a pile of rubbles with a sledge hammer, a protective cap and a pair of gloves ready to go to work describing him as resembling AC Milan’s hard-tackling midfielder, Gattuso – another brace with strong nerves.
In the story headlined: ’Martello’ Boateng (‘martello’ meaning hammer or knocker)an inside page of the paper saw Kevin-Prince Boateng as the man to anchor AC Milan aspirations to success. “I am in a multiracial team. The story of Milan doesn’t have equals and together we can win everything,” he said. Kevin, who didn’t kick a ball for his new club, Genoa in the ‘Italian Serie A’, after his transfer from English side Portsmouth was quickly loaned to AC Milan and signed both contracts to that effect the same day.
He will be wearing the clubs No.27 shirt previously worn by Serginho. “It’s unbelievable to be here,” he told ‘La Gazzette dello Sport’, “playing for this club is a dream realised. I wanted Milan and put in all my efforts,” he mentioned.
When asked what he knew about Milan, the Ghanaian star, born to a Ghanaian father and a German mother, pointed out he knew the story of Milan and is aware he has come to a society which is very famous in the world. “Milan is my first choice and behind Real Madrid and Barcelona. My objective is to help this club to do well and receive in exchange the possibility of demonstrating my value.”
The well-built soccer icon was quick to point out he will not have difficulty to play in Italy because both the English and the Italian leagues are strong competitions. Asked to describe himself being reminded that there are players with bad behaviour and difficult characters, he said: “I am a normal 23-year-old who loves playing football. If I have this fame, I am asking of one thing: to judge me on what you see on the field. What has passed is gone and I am thinking of doing well here.”
Kevin also described the relation between him and his junior brother, Jerome, who is now with Manchester City, as optimum against speculations that they don’t get on well. “We hear of each other twice a week. He is happy at Manchester and ready against any team.”
The Ghanaian was also taken around the story of the recent World Cup with his brother playing for Germany and why he chose to play for Ghana. He responded: “My mother is a German but my father a Ghanaian. I feel more of that part in me.
Also there was a misunderstanding with the German FA. In South Africa it was an unbelievable experience arriving at the quarter final stage. I am 50% Ghanaian and 50% German.”
Marked with 26 tattoos spread over his body (on his shoulder written, Prince), the Ghanaian strong running midfielder spoke briefly about Mario Balotelli when asked about his comments on the 20-year-old contentious star who has been signed by Manchester City from Italy’s Inter Milan. “Mario is an incredible player and is young. It’s normal that all children are not the same. At Manchester it went well and he will be appreciated.”
Again asked about what quality he is bringing to the Italian league, Kevin replied in short:”The spirit of sacrifice - to work always for others”. He also mentioned in the interview that in the past his role models in football were Zidane and Rivaldo but now Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldinho saying about the latter he can’t believe he has become his team mate.
When finally confronted about the night life in Milan as very tempting he said: “Yes! But next week I am being joined by my family - my wife, Jennifer Michelle whose father comes from Foggia in Italy and my son Jermaine-Prince who is 2 years old. Don’t you think I will be a good boy,” he asked.