Malcom vows to rise to Barcelona challenge after controversial move

Malcom wants to emulate some of Barcelona's past Brazilian greats after being officially unveiled by the club on their United States tour.

The 21-year-old moved to the La Liga side earlier this week in a £45million deal, despite Roma announcing that they had agreed terms with Bordeaux for his signature.

An 11th hour intervention by Barcelona persuaded Malcom to move to Spain instead - and according to the winger, he now has the chance to live out a childhood dream.

Speaking at the unveiling at Nike's headquarters in Portland, Malcom said: 'I know it's a challenge to play for FC Barcelona, but this is a dream I've had since I was little.

'I'm a forward, and I'm multi-faceted, good in one-on-one situations, I'm very fast, and I can help out defensively.

'When I was little, my idol was Ronaldinho. Neymar too. I hope to follow in the footsteps of all the great Brazilian players who triumphed at Barca.'

Malcom also said he was looking forward to playing alongside Lionel Messi, describing the Barcelona forwards as a 'legend, and I hope to learn a lot from him.'

Malcom was presented on Thursday in Beaverton, Oregon - with Barca currently in the US for the pre-season International Champions Cup - by club president Josep Maria Bartomeu, sporting director Eric Abidal and vice president Jordi Mestre.

It was Abidal who called Bordeaux president Stephane Martin and told the French club Barca would offer them more money than Roma for their young star.

The Serie A club seemed to have a deal sewn up with Bordeaux for 21-year-old Brazilian winger Malcom - to the extent that they confirmed the deal on Twitter, and Roma fans were gathered at the airport to welcome the player.

However at the 11th hour Barca swooped with a £45m bid which blew Roma's offer out the water, and Malcom failed to board his chartered private plane to Rome.

This left Roma president Jim Pallotta furious, and he called Barca has behaved 'unethically and immorally' in a radio interview on Thursday.

He said:  'Other teams know not to come in and do what Barca did. Bordeaux should have never been doing what they did. Their actions were ridiculous.

'Barcelona apologised about their actions and how they did things. I don't accept the apology at all.

'The only way I'll accept Barca's apology is if they send the player to us, and that's not going to happen. Maybe, as a goodwill gesture, the very least they could do is send us Messi.'

Barca's late dash for Malcom came when a £65m bid for their primary target, Chelsea midfielder Willian, was unexpectedly rejected. So they moved for Malcom, tempting him with the No 7 shirt.

Malcom could now make his debut against Tottenham Hotspur, who Barca face in a friendly on Sunday in Los Angeles.