Nearly 10 million fans follow his social media accounts. Many have bought a pair of the upmarket glasses he designed, or the very same baseball cap he wore for his last photo shoot. FC Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng is well on his way to becoming a global brand; he belongs to the same management stable as US rapper Jay-Z, and a potential move to big-spending Paris St Germain may further enhance his global marketing appeal.

According to several media and television reports, the 29-year-old defender's departure from Bayern is imminent, with rumours that Boateng could join up with PSG and their German coach Thomas Tuchel within the next couple of days, reports Xinhua news agency. Rumours indicate PSG will have to pay more than 50 million euros ($58.4 million) to sign the 2014 World Cup winner, whose contract with the Bavarians runs until 2021.