After Bayern Munich fans practically hounded Jerome Boateng from the club, it seems the disgraced ex-Germany international has found a welcoming home in FC Barcelona.
The player was seen training with the
Catalans (via Sport) under coach Hansi Flick, whom Boateng knows from his time as head coach of FC Bayern. For now, it seems that the 37-year-old will simply use the facilities at Barcelona to stay in shape.
Background
Jerome Boateng is a controversial figure in Germany. Earlier in the year, he revealed that he was offered a coaching internship at FC Bayern under Vincent Kompany. The reaction from the fans was swift.
Translations as per @iMiaSanMia capture the extent of fan anger:
‘Whoever gives the perpetrator space bears his guilt — Boateng, pi*s off!’
‘No place for character pigs in our club. No more place for Boateng’
‘No stage/platform for perpetrators. Pi*s off Boateng!’
Eventually, Bayern Munich were forced to back down and Jerome Boateng declined to pursue the internship further. This was not the first time that Boateng has attempted a return to Munich, but if he has any sense, it will likely be the last.
Enter Barça
Having been soundly rejected by the fans of his former club, will Boateng look for opportunities elsewhere?
At Barcelona, he will link up with Hansi Flick, a coach he worked with at Bayern Munich as well as the German national team. If this saga has revealed anything about the people in charge of football clubs, they don’t much care about Boateng’s past or the allegations against him.
However, this does not mean that the 37-year-old has ex-defender has entered into an official partnership with FC Barcelona. If such a thing were to happen, perhaps we would see the same extent of protests that were seen in Germany.
Or… maybe not? Recall former Manchester United star Mason Greenwood. He went to La Liga and played for Getafe without any problems, despite being caught on video abusing his girlfriend. Now, FC Barcelona are not Getafe, but it remains to be seen if Spanish fans care enough to push this the way the Südkurve did.
This is a reminder that, without fan anger, Bayern Munich were ready to welcome Boateng with open arms. It is up to a fanbase to keep a club honest. Barcelona have a fan-owned membership model like you’ll find in the Bundesliga — perhaps Boateng won’t get the welcome he wants there. Perhaps.
