We're not kidding, Kevin-Prince Boateng really is a Barcelona player.

The football world produced a collective double-take when it emerged that the former Portsmouth player would become the answer to Barcelona's problems up front.

The Blaugrana had been looking for somebody to provide back-up for Luis Suarez this month with Alvaro Morata, Carlos Vela, Olivier Giroud and Cristhian Stuani all linked with a move.

None of the rumoured targets did much to inspire Barcelona fans, so imagine their bewilderment when it emerged on Monday that they had settled on Boateng.

The 31-year-old certainly has raw ability, but has fallen off the radar in recent years and has been club-hopping between the likes of Las Palmas, Eintracht Frankfurt and Sassuolo.

Boateng signs for Barcelona

Fans will be relieved to hear that Boateng is only arriving on loan and it seems almost certain that - barring a remarkable run of form - he'll be returning to Serie A in the summer.

It's not as though Boateng will be leading the line for Barcelona week in, week out but you can understand fans for once again venting their frustrating at the transfer policy. 

And one of the strongest reactions has emerged from the Spanish media and in particular Madrid-based Marca, who traditionally have allegiances towards Barcelona's rivals. 

Marca slam Boateng transfer

Journalist Jaime Rincon penned a strongly-worded opinion article titled: "The Boateng 'joke.'"

He went on to write: "Many will have wondered if this was fake news when they read about it, and it wouldn't take much to consider it so.

"If we'd all been asked for a list of 50 candidates to replace Munir El Haddadi, I'm sure very few people would have had this player as one of them.

"Even the departed Munir might have appeared ahead of Boateng on that list.

"He has scored four goals in 13 matches with Sassuolo and the last of these was almost three months ago. Was there really nobody more convincing on the market?

"If Valverde can also get something out of this player then we need to put him up there with Jude the Apostle, the saint of lost causes."

Pretty strong stuff, but it's easy to sympathise with the confusion. 

Although the signings of players like Gerard Deulofeu, Paulinho and Malcom have caused disappointment over the last few years, none have received the same reaction as Boateng.

Barcelona have incredibly passionate fans and they will no doubt get behind their new signing, but the vultures will be ready to circle if Boateng makes a slow start.

He can - at the very least - anticipate some more critical reviews from the Spanish capital.

Is Boateng to Barcelona the most bizarre move of recent times? Have your say in the comments section below.