KP Boateng: Football is a business, players are only numbers

Kevin Prince-Boateng has criticised the changing culture of the modern football with its business-like approach to players.

Currently plying his trade for Florentina, Boateng has made seven appearances for La Viola so far this season as they sit 15th in the Serie A the table.

"Football is just a business now and we are only numbers," Boateng said in an interview with Bild.

"If you don't work, you will be replaced. Simple. There is no more loyalty and it is sad."

He also insisted that there is a lot of stress in today's game, as many players treat the game as a purely a job.

"You should take a survey and see how many players are happy to go to training, how many have fun," he insisted.

"Obviously, football for professionals is a job, but it is so well paid that it becomes stressful.

"The pressure is enormous and even causes depression. There are times that I have fun playing and other times when I do not."

Finally, Boateng feels that youngsters in the game need to be more mindful of turning up for training on time and working hard.

"They do work their talent and I know what it means to throw it away," he said.

"Some drive their Mercedes at age 19 and they already look so talented that they do nothing to improve. Without extra training, without doing anything.

"They're the last ones arrive to training and then the first ones to leave. I think football has changed, just like society."