Barcelona coach compliments new player Boateng ahead of Sevilla clash

Barcelona, Jan 23: FC Barcelona head coach Ernesto Valverde has praised the experience and character of the club's newest player, former Ghana international Kevin-Prince Boateng, terming him a "strong player".

The 31-year-old forward joined Barça on a six-month loan deal from Italy's Sassuolo for one million euros ($1.13 million), with an option that Barcelona make the move permanent for 8 million euros in the summer of 2019, reports Efe news.

"Kevin-Prince Boateng is a player who has experience, knows the league and the role he will develop," Valverde said at a press conference on Tuesday night.

"We hope he helps us, he is a strong player," Valverde added.

Barça's coach stressed that Boateng knows La Liga well, as he played as a forward for Las Palmas during the 2016-17 season.

Valverde said he would include the Berlin-born player of Ghanaian ancestry in Wednesday's match against Sevilla in the Copa del Rey quarterfinal.

"He can play now," Valverde said, "because he played (with Sassuolo) the whole game against Inter (in Serie A) on Saturday; one of the reasons why he is here is because he is active."