Germany defender Jerome Boateng was “sad” to be the victim of a racist comment from a German politician on Sunday.

Alexander Gauland, of Germany’s right-wing Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) party, said in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntag-szeitung that he would “not want to have Jerome Boateng as a neighbour.”

After representing his country for the 58th time in a 3-1 defeat to Slovakia on Sunday, the 27-year-old expressed his disappointment at Gauland’s remarks.

“To be honest, it’s sad that something like that still gets said nowadays,” Boateng was quoted as saying on sport1.de.

“I’m happy to be German. I am proud, otherwise I would not be here playing for the national team.

“I think I’ve integrated well and I don’t think I have to say much more than that.”

It is not the first time a Germany international has been racially insulted ahead of a major football tournament.

Patrick Owomoyela was victimised by the right-wing NPD party prior to the 2006 World Cup, while Gerald Asamoah was also often targeted during his career as a Germany international.

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