Kevin Prince-Boateng has insisted that Italy is not a racist country despite being subjected to abuse prior to his move to Schalke from AC Milan.

The club's chief financial officer Peter Peters claimed earlier this month that the Ghana international's desire to move was driven by racism in Italy, but he later admitted that his initial assumption regarding the attacking midfielder's motives to leave Serie A had proved to be completely wrong.

Boateng has now had his say on the matter as well and has stressed that he did not leave Milan because of racist incident.

"I don't leave a country and lump all inhabitants together only because 10 people shout ignorant slogans," the 26-year-old told Kicker.

"I want to get one thing straight: Italy is not a racist country."

Boateng spent three seasons at Milan, winning one Serie A title in the process, before his return to Germany this summer.