AC Milan forward Kevin-Prince Boateng doesn’t give a damn.
He may be in New York and playing in hallowed Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night against Real Madrid (8 pm ET, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes), but he’s showing up in a Philadelphia Phillies cap.
It’s the same loud, bright red baseball cap that he’s been sporting for several days while at AC Milan preseason camp here in the USA.
“I didn’t buy the hat because of the Phillies, it’s just because of my second name, Prince,” he told MLSsoccer.com at a Wednesday press conference. “So I like the ‘P.’ Definitely, I’m going to go with the hat tonight to the game.”
If he’s not bashful about wearing a Phillies cap at Yankees Stadium, he’s even less apologetic when talking about his fifth-minute goal for Ghana that helped oust the USA from the second round of the 2010 World Cup.
“Of course the people joke sometimes and say, ‘You broke my heart,’” he said of his encounters with US fans. “But I think that’s football and I’m happy to be here. I love to be in America. It’s always a nice place to come.
“But if I have the chance to do it again, I would do it again.”
Naturally.
But it’s that ruthless side to Boateng that has made him a success at AC Milan and ready to take over the forward role vacated by superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic, even though Boateng's previously made his living as a midfielder.
After taking a break and sitting out Saturday’s 3-1 win over Honduran side CD Olimpia, he’s set to start up top for AC Milan against Real Madrid, joining Brazilian international Robinho and Italian national team trequartista Antonio Cassano in the Rossoneri’s 4-3-3.
“I think the team what we have now, we’re young and that’s a very good thing. We can work together and grow as a team,” Boateng said. “I’m looking forward to this game and hopefully we can win the game.”
