Gedson Fernandes may have a whopping release clause reportedly worth 102million euros, but he would've been cheaper to buy as a youngster.

In 2009, while Fernandes was playing football for his youth team SC Frielas, he was followed closely by scouts from Sporting and Benfica.

He was offered terms by Sporting, but his club snubbed their agreement for a better deal from the Eagles.

Incredibly, Benfica agreed to give SC Frielas 250 euros - equivalent to £215 - as well as 25 footballs to make sure they beat their rivals to his signature, while Sporting were offering nothing.

Initially his parents weren't too happy about the arrangement, however coaches at SC Frielas managed to convince the parents it would be best for the player's development to train at Benfica's famed Seixal academy.

Fernandes was born in 1999 in the small island of Sao Tome in Africa.

The country was founded by the Portuguese during the era of the African slave trades.

His early years were far from wealthy, and playing football on the street was his way out of the rural wasteland.