Long before Mauro Icardi became a headline-making striker in Europe, he was just another teenager trying to make it at Barcelona’s iconic La Masia academy.
But according to a former teammate, Icardi’s early days in Spain included one of the most bizarre and unforgettable moments imaginable—one involving a homemade slingshot, a pigeon, and an open flame.
Sergi Gomez Spills a Startling Memory
During a chat on the Spanish podcast Post United, former Barcelona defender Sergi Gomez shared a jaw-dropping story from his time living with Icardi and other academy hopefuls like Marc Muniesa and Sergi Roberto.
Gomez, who spent nearly a decade at the club, said the moment is still burned into his memory.
“Mauro came to me one day and asked me to head to the park next door with him,” Gomez recalled.
“He had made this DIY slingshot out of a Y-shaped stick and a rubber band.
He pointed up to a massive pine tree and said, ‘Do you see that pigeon up there?’”
The Slingshot, the Pigeon, and the Campfire
What followed sounds more like a survivalist episode than a teenage afternoon.
Icardi allegedly took aim with his slingshot, nailed the pigeon from about 20 or 30 meters high, and brought it down. Then, things got even stranger.
“He picked it up, plucked the feathers, ran a wire through it, and lit a fire,” Gomez said.
“He cooked it right in front of me. I just thought to myself, ‘If we’re starting off like this, what’s next?’”
Despite the Bird Incident, There’s Still Respect
Despite the strange memory, Gomez didn’t seem to hold any hard feelings.
In fact, he had plenty of affection for Icardi. “We went through a lot together,” he said.
“If he hears this, I hope he knows I still carry those times in my heart.”
Icardi had joined La Masia ahead of the 2008–09 season, reportedly snubbing big-name suitors like Arsenal, Liverpool, and Valencia to make the move.
Icardi’s Divorce Drama Adds Another Twist
Off the pitch, Icardi’s life remains just as eventful. The Galatasaray striker is in the midst of a high-profile divorce from Wanda Nara—his wife, agent, and a well-known TV personality in Argentina.
Despite reportedly earning around £5 million per year, Icardi could be in line to receive alimony depending on how the case unfolds.
He has accused Nara of infidelity, claiming she had affairs with Argentinian singer L-Gante, and footballers Federico Fazio and Keita Baldé.
Baldé has allegedly confirmed the relationship, while Nara denies knowing Fazio and has remained vague about the others.
A Tangled Web of Relationships
Interestingly, Nara has spoken openly about her past relationship with L-Gante, explaining that it occurred during a time she and Icardi were informally separated.
Meanwhile, Icardi himself was also linked to actress and model China Suarez—sparking additional drama amid the couple’s strained relationship.
With public claims, conflicting stories, and romantic twists on both sides, the divorce proceedings are shaping up to be just as complicated as Icardi’s early days at La Masia—though hopefully with fewer pigeons involved.