Barcelona find their striker in Kevin Prince Boateng

Barcelona find their back-up striker in Kevin Prince Boateng.

Barcelona’s search for a back-up striker is over as the club have signed Kevin Prince Boateng. The 31-year old is arriving from Italian-side Sassuolo on loan for the remainder of the season. He takes up the place of Munir El Haddadi who was sold to Sevilla not too long ago.

Barcelona issued a press release confirming the signing of the Ghana international. In their statement, the club confirmed that it’s a loan deal for the rest of the season with an €8 million option to buy at the end of the season.

His signing is definitely one that took people by surprise and is the “mystery player” the club were negotiation during the past week or so. In the last few weeks, names like Alvaro Morata, Christian Stuani, and Carlos Vela were touted as players the club were interested in with Vela appearing to be the chosen one up until a few days ago. The reason he was ultimately discarded is that since MLS ended weeks ago, Vela hasn’t seen game action and Barcelona wanted someone who was match fit.

Boateng has had an interesting career playing in different leagues with various teams. In Spain, he played with Las Palmas under current Betis manager, Quique Setien. Under Setien, Boateng played as an out-and-out striker and scored ten goals in 28 appearances in the 2016/17 season before he and the club decided to terminate the contract.

With Sassuolo, he’s been deployed as a center-forward, scoring five goals in 15 appearances despite being hampered with injuries at times this season.

Sassuolo were rather positive about the move stating, “This furthers the profitable relationship between Barcelona and Sassuolo, born this summer as part of the buying and selling of the footballer Marlon.

Despite skepticism to the move, Kevin Prince Boateng is a solid move for Barcelona as they were looking for someone with experience in order for the club to rest Luis Suarez. They were also looking for someone who knows coming in that Suarez is the starting forward which means that they may not play as much as they did at their prior club. Boateng apparently fits the bill. It’s also a small-risk move because if it doesn’t work out, then they simply part ways at the end of the season. It also doesn’t impede Barcelona from finding a replacement for Suarez in the summer.

Prior to joining Barcelona, Boateng has played for Hertha Berlin, Tottenham, Dortmund, Portsmouth, AC Milan, Schalke 04, AC Milan (again), Las Palmas, Eintracht Frankfurt, and the aforementioned Sassuolo. He should see his official debut midweek in their Copa del Rey game against Sevilla.