Las Palmas midfielder Kevin Prince Boateng has admitted that he failed to control ‘fame’ and ‘wealth’ at the peak of his football career.
Boateng, following an impressive display for the Black Stars of Ghana at the South Africa 2010 World Cup, saw him move from Portmouth to the Italian Serie A and co-owned by Genoa and AC Milan in August 2010.
The 29-year-old made 100 appearances and scored 17 goals for the Rossoneri.
At the apex of his career, night clubbing and extravagant lifestyle had a major toll on him, declining with series of injuries with long lay-offs and subsequently could not recover to hit top form as he used to.
Boateng conceded that life was different in Italy and on-top of the world after hitting stardom leading to the nickname ‘Prince of Milan’.
“For me it was impossible. From one day to another you have so much money you can buy everything,” Boateng told Marca.
“In two years I spent all my money on cars, watches, boots, nightclubs, restaurants and friends who really were not.
“For a guy like me, who grew up in a poor neighbourhood and had no money, it was dangerous.”
The former Schalke FC player added that he has learned lessons from such destructive lifestyle and ready to make amends.
“In life it is important to recognise the bad. Thanks to the mistakes, I am what I am. I was a very impulsive person and maybe I’m smarter now.”
“At the 2010 World Cup, I saw players at another level and I thought I had to concentrate only on football to reach that level.
“My mind was on other things that were not important. There I decided to change my mentality.”
Boateng has featured 15 times for Ghana after his nationality switch in May 2010 and scored two goals.
