Former Benfica superkid Ze Gomes has revealed how he was blocked from signing for Barcelona.

Gomes is now playing in Bulgaria with Cherno More and has recalled how he was a step away from joining Barca at 17 years of age.

He told Gong: "I started at Sporting, but things didn't end well and I tried my luck at Benfica. I trained with the first team and even received an offer from Barça, but my club refused and said they would give me opportunities in the first team."

Despite the promises, Gomes only played 3 games for Benfica, so he decided to try his luck at another team.

"I waited for my moment, but I was only playing 5 minutes in a row and I never got the opportunities I expected. I didn't want to continue playing for the second team, so I ended up on loan in Poland. When the loan ended, they didn't even want me at Benfica B."