Barcelona's Kevin Prince Boateng has claimed that he could have been a player at Manchester United for 10 years if he had greater motivation earlier in his career.
Many eyebrows were raised when Boateng's nomadic career saw a significant upturn in January when he joined Barcelona on loan until the end of the season from Italian minnows Sassuolo.
Now the Ghanaian is a La Liga winner and could yet be involved in a Champions League triumph.
Boateng has been a real journeyman since leaving the Premier League in 2010 following stints at Tottenham and Portsmouth, rocking up at AC Milan, Schalke, Las Palmas and Eintract Frankfurt - where he departed after winning the DFB Pokal in his final game when they defeated Bayern Munich in the final - before his latest escaped.
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Boateng was always a talented player but never seemed to be able to have the consistency or the attitude to capitalise upon it.
Even though he has now reached the pinnacle with Barcelona he still harbours regret over his career and says he could have been a starter at Old Trafford for a number of years if had he the right motivation.
"Mentality is crucial. I started too late to really think about [my career]. Of course I regret that," the 32-year-old told Goal and DAZN.
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"As an 18-year-old, I would have needed an agent or a family to push me in the right direction. I would have liked that. But I had to fix everything myself.
"I know very well that I have also failed with my motivation, which has not always been 100 per cent there.
"If I would have had the absolute will, I would have been a starting XI player at Barcelona or would have played 10 years for Real Madrid or Manchester United."
Boateng has made just three appearances during his unlikely loan spell in Catalonia, but Barca do have a purchase option if they wish to sign him at the end of his loan.
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