WITH ADEBAYO OLODAN
After the closure of summer transfer window, most managers look forward to the winter (January) transfer window to strengthen their squad.
With little transfer funds made available by the management of European clubs, most managers resort to signing players who are either out of contract or have enjoyed little playing time at their respective clubs. Most of the players in the second category swap clubs on loan in order to get enough playing time.
Over the years, there is always that transfer that will take everybody by surprise and the 2019 winter transfer window appeared to have continued in that trend.
One of the biggest surprises of the 2019 January transfer window is the move of former Ghana international, Kevin Prince Boateng to Barcelona on a six months loan deal.
The deal has continued to generate reactions on the social media with some people having a laugh and others making graphics representation.
With Denis Suarez wanting out of Barcelona due to lack of playing time, the Spanish club began its search for a capable replacement but never did any football enthusiast expect Boateng’s name to be mentioned in the boardroom of the La Liga champions.
After three weeks of speculation, Boateng passed his medical and was afterward announced a Barcelona player, making him the first Ghanaian to be signed by the club.
The 31-year-old has travelled across Europe and could be described as a journeyman having featured for Tottenham Hotspur, Portsmouth, AC Milan, Schalke 04, Las Palmas, Eintracht Frankfurt and Sassuolo.
Boateng has only ever spent more than two seasons at a club once; when he was at AC Milan.
The midfielder has a long list of unpleasant records; suspended by DFB, suspended by Ghana FA, released by AC Milan and sacked by Schalke. He was also rejected by Sporting Lisbon for failed medical, was turned down by Saudi Ittihad on fitness issues and he was consistently racially abused.
At 31, Boateng was quietly doing his job and may not have imagined one of the biggest teams in the world could add him to their squad.
Out of nowhere, Boateng has been offered the chance to play alongside Lionel Messi, who is arguably the best player in the planet. Boateng is now within touching distance of winning the La Liga, Copa del Rey and probably the UEFA Champions League. This is indeed a fairytale and a proper dream come true for the Ghanaian.
Another player whose transfer has remained a shocker to many of us is John Obi Mikel who has reportedly joined English Championship side, Middlesbrough.
According to a report, the former Chelsea midfielder, 31, travelled from London to the north-east on Tuesday after agreeing personal terms.
Mikel who has won about 10 trophies including the UEFA Champions League, FA Cup, Premiership and the African Nations Cup, last played for two years at Tianjin TEDA in the Chinese Super League.
Mikel played more than 350 games for Chelsea during his 11-year stay at Stamford Bridge.
Given his high rating and the number of silverware he has won and the fact that he was available for free, one would have expected Mikel to settle for one of the top five leagues in Europe and not a Championship side.
Roma and Wolfsburg registered an interest in Mikel but he is said to be keen on a return to England, where his wife and two young children are based.
Mikel will be part of a Tony Pulis side looking to bring Premier League football back to the Riverside next season.
Boro currently sit fifth in the Championship table and seven points off leaders Leeds.
Tony Pulis believes Mikel can help propel Boro’s promotion push.
Mikel hasn’t played for Nigeria since last summer’s World Cup. He has been encouraged to return to the national scene ahead of this summer’s Africa Cup of Nations, but only regular playing time at club level will guarantee him a place in the team, according to Nigeria coach, Gernot Rohr.
