No wonder Malcom feels at home with Barcelona – he’d already spent hours playing at the Nou Camp before joining the club this summer.

The 21-year-old was the subject of a transfer hijacking as Barca stole him from under the noses of Roma earlier this month.

But the Brazilian had gotten used to the idea of being in a Blaugrana shirt for quite some time, having admitted they have always been his video game team of choice.

“In video games I always played as Barcelona, and I always wanted to play here because I love the style of play,” he said.

“I want to work hard to win a lot of titles and make history.

“I want to play with [Lionel] Messi, the best player in the world.”

Though Barcelona’s season has not officially got underway, Malcolm has made an impact already by scoring in a pre-season friendly defeat against Roma – the club he had spurned.

And the Sao Paulo-born attacker concedes he is still in dreamland after his €41 million move.

“I have managed to come to the best team in the world,” he added. “Barcelona is more than a club for me and I feel privileged to be here.

“All players dream of playing with Barcelona. I didn’t imagine it would be so soon, but I knew I could fulfil my dream of playing here.”