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Boateng future in doubt
GEORGE Boateng may be happy
with life at Middlesbrough, but
the midfielder fears his days on
Teesside are numbered.
Now in his sixth season at the
Riverside Stadium, after moving
in a £5m deal from Aston Villa
in 2002, Boateng feels the current
campaign has been his
toughest yet.
Boateng was stripped of the
Boro captaincy in January, and
question marks over his future
resurfaced.
The hard-working midfielder
was recalled to the starting lineup
in the wake of the Teessiders'
humiliating FA Cup defeat at the
hands of Cardiff City.
But, despite playing his part in
draws at Aston Villa and Arsenal,
Boateng remains unsure
about his future.
"The first five season's highs
and lows have been matched by
this season alone, it's been extremely
difficult," admitted the
Dutchman. "I want to be successful
and to do that you have
to overcome adversity and hurdles
and I'm trying to do that."
Boateng's current Middlesbrough
deal ends in June next
year, but he believes it may be
long before then that his future
is decided.
To maintain continuity in the
squad, Southgate has revealed
that he wants to make minimal
changes to his personnel during
the summer, despite reports the
Boro boss has £20m at his disposal.
However, Boateng seems resigned
to the fact he may be one
of the players that makes way at
the end of the season.
"I have a year left on my contract
and I feel the club will
make dramatic changes in the
summer and I don't know if I'll
be included," said Boateng. "I
don't see myself having a future
longer than my year.
"There's a possibility I can
move on, but I'll always give my
best while I'm here. The club's
done a lot for me and vice versa
I've not forgotten the support of
the fans.
"There'll be a time when you
can't stay forever. It's not
whether I want to be here it's
whether the club want me."
The former Dutch international
has no lack of faith in his
own ability, and at 32, whether it
be on Teesside or not, Boateng
feels he has many playing years
left in him.
He said: "I don't know where
I'll go if I leave. I'll have to wait
to the summer, I'm not old, I'm
at my golden age.
"I did 12km (at Aston Villa) on
Wednesday and 13 on Saturday
(at Arsenal) so the running is not
a problem for me."
And, while Boateng still feels
he still has plenty to offer on the
pitch, he has no desire in taking
Southgate's route into management.
"I've not looked into the
coaching, that's not for me," said
Boateng. "I don't want to be in
Gareth's shoes. I have no interest
in it at all. Marco Van Basten
took five years holidays after finishing.
"He played tennis and golf in
that time and that would suit
me."
8:40am Saturday 22nd March 2008
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