Liverpool star Diogo Jota admits he was paying to play as late as 16 years of age.
Jota recalled his time coming through the system at Pacos de Ferreira.
“Kids aged 14 and 15 today already have professional contracts, which is good, but that was not the case for me. Until I was 16, I paid to play and played for fun,” he revealed to the Athletic.
“I even trained in big clubs, but I never stayed. They are small disappointments, but everything went well.
“The secret is never to give up. Each experience makes you stronger.”
Jota was signed by Atletico Madrid in 2016, but only fulfilled his pre-season under Argentine Diego Simeone, before being loaned to FC Porto for a season, which preceded his trip to England.
“Even when things don’t go as expected, we can always learn from the experiences. They came from a Champions League final [in 2013/14]. I did the pre-season, which meant a lot to me, and I learned a lot, waiting for more, but going out was the best option for my career and I don’t regret it.”