Over the years, Barcelona’s training facilities have welcomed various players, many of whom have ties to the club. Notable individuals like Sergi Roberto and Dani Alves (prior to his legal issues) have trained at the club’s Ciutat Esportiva to stay fit while searching for new opportunities. However, the latest visitor has sparked some controversy.
As reported by Sport, former Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng was seen using Barcelona’s training facilities on Thursday, with plans to continue in the coming days. The 37-year-old, currently a free agent after leaving LASK Linz last summer, has recently met with manager Hansi Flick, who he collaborated with during his tenure at Bayern as both assistant and head coach.
Outsider at Bayern Munich
Boateng had been working towards a coaching career through an internship at Bayern’s Sabener Strasse, but his time there was cut short by fan protests. Supporters displayed banners at matches stating ‘Draw the line against misogynistic violence,’ and called for the club to distance itself from Boateng, emphasizing that ‘there’s no place for villains in our club.’
Image via BR/Flow media company GmbH/Alamy/Imago Images/Cosmin
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Boateng’s Troubling History
In 2021, Boateng was convicted of assault for physically abusing his ex-girlfriend, Sherin Senler, and initially faced a €1.8 million fine, later reduced to €100,000 in 2022. During the same year of the court case, Der Spiegel revealed an email from Boateng’s mother, claiming, “For years, my son has been psychologically and physically abusing women. Now, following Kasia Lenhardt’s tragic death, he still does not wish to face the consequences of his actions.”
Kasia Lenhardt tragically passed away at the age of 26 in the same year as the assault case, just a week after Boateng announced their separation.