Barcelona’s signing of Kevin-Prince Boateng makes perfect sense

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Kevin-Prince Boateng to Barcelona is a transfer that has come as a bolt out of the blue.

There wasn’t even a hint of a move from the Catalans for a player who is adored and despised in equal measure, depending on which team you support.

One thing is clear though. He’s a fearsome competitor who will add his huge presence in the dressing room to liven things up a bit.At a reported €6m should Barca wish to purchase him at the end of the season, even a short-term move makes relative sense, given that he’s an upgrade on the recently departed Munir.

Eyebrows have certainly been raised, but when you think about it, the hire of the German-Ghanaian makes perfect sense.

Both off and on the pitch.

Ostensibly bought as a back-up to Luis Suarez, Boateng offers some of the qualities that the Uruguayan possesses and which are missing when El Pistolero is injured or rested.

Combative and a player who likes to press high, he’s strong, quick, and unlike Munir and Paco Alcacer, he’ll settle for the role for which he’s been signed and take advantage of any minutes he’s given.

More importantly for Ernesto Valverde, the player will also offer him the genuine alternative option of being able to bench Suarez at various points during the business end of the season.

It was the No.9 who complained that he was running on empty by the time Roma knocked Barcelona out of the Champions League last season, so expect to see that changed once Boateng has put pen to paper.

What’s interesting too is to see judge and jury already out, suggesting that there’s no way Boateng can possibly succeed at the Camp Nou.

The same nay-sayers were out in force when Paulinho and then Arturo Vidal  were brought to the club.

They might not be what are normally termed as ‘Barcelona-type’ players, in terms of their style, but both the Brazilian and the Chilean have been a success.

Maybe it’s time to get away from a certain profile of footballer, particularly when the needs of the team and/or squad in general are different.

Should Barca make it through the Copa del Rey, and with the Champions League returning in the not too distant future, there’s plenty of time for Boateng to make a name for himself in the same way his contemporaries have.

Things are about to get interesting…

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