A former Dutch footballer claims Kevin-Prince Boateng had world-class potential as a youngster and expected him to get close to Lionel Messi's level.
Boateng came through the Hertha Berlin youth ranks before showing out for the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, AC Milan, Schalke and FC Barcelona.
Former Hertha defender Dick van Burik spoke highly of the German-born midfielder after completing his return to Berlin.
"Even when Kevin came from the youth to the first team, his potential was immediately world-class," Van Burik said as quoted by Ghanaweb.
"He can do things that you go to the stadium for. Even then he had the... attitude and simply showed what he can do.
"He has become a great player but I actually expected that he would come even closer to the highest level of Messi. His passing game, the overview, speed, technique, and goal danger, he had it all. That he is now returning to Hertha is a wonderful story.
"As they say in Holland, the circle is round again."
Van Burik added that Kevin and his brother Jerome Boateng were the of the best players to come out of the Hertha system.
"Kevin and Jerome Boateng are the greatest players that Hertha have ever trained and both were successful at top international clubs," he added.
"Hertha can be very proud of that. If Jerome came now, that would be the absolute Hertha hammer. If both of them finally kicked off where their world careers began, that would be Hertha's fairy tale.
