Ex-Barcelona star killed and ATE a pigeon at the club's iconic training ground

Mauro Icardi ate a pigeon after killing it with a homemade slingshot while in Barcelona's famous La Masia academy, a former team-mate has claimed.

Sergi Gomez, who spent eight years at Barcelona after joining aged 14, made the sensational allegation during an appearance on Spanish podcast Post United.

Gomez, also formerly of Sevilla and Espanyol, lived in an apartment with fellow academy youngsters Icardi, Marc Muniesa and Sergi Roberto.

It was during this period that he saw a sight he would never forget.

Speaking on the podcast, Gomez said: 'Mauro arrived at La Masía and we were teammates for three or four seasons. During one of those seasons, we shared an apartment. One day, he said to me, "Sergi, come with me to the park next door."

'He was carrying a Y-shaped piece of wood that he had cut the day before, with a rubber band tied to it. He had made a homemade slingshot. We went to the park, and he pointed to a very tall pine tree and said, "See up there?"'

According to Gomez, Icardi pointed to a barely visible pigeon and proceeded to take aim and let fly, killing the bird. He then placed it on a fire to cook it.

'He grabbed a rock, stretched the rubber band, and... boom. He brought down the pigeon from a height of 20 or 30 meters,' Gomez added.

'We went back, he plucked its feathers, threaded a wire through it, lit a fire, and ate it in front of me. I remember thinking: "What awaits me if we start like this".'

Gomez, however, went on to speak fondly of his former team-mate, saying: 'We lived through a lot together, and if he sees him, he'll know that I hold that in my heart.'

Icardi joined Barcelona ahead of the 2008-09 campaign, reportedly turning down interest from several clubs including Arsenal, Liverpool and Valencia.

Meanwhile, he could allegedly be entitled to financial support from his wife after their impending divorce - despite earning an estimated £5million per year.

The Galatasaray ace is going through divorce proceedings with his high-profile spouse Wanda Nara, an Argentinian model and presenter with whom he has two kids.

Icardi has accused Nara of infidelity, an allegation which could lead to her having to pay alimony if it is proven to have led to their divorce.

The 32-year-old alleged Nara cheated on him with Argentinian singer L-Gante and former team-mates Federico Fazio and Keita Balde.

The latter has even admitted to having the affair. However, Nara has denied knowing Fazio, has not addressed the Balde situation, and is open about her former relationship with L-Gante, which came amid an informal split from Icardi.

After their split, Icardi began his own romance with actress and model China Suarez, with whom he allegedly cheated on Nara while they were still together.