Andre Gomes: Life at Barcelona 'has turned into a kind of hell'

Andre Gomes confessed that life at Barcelona seems like "hell" during a season in which he has apparently struggled to discover the type of form worthy of winning over supporters of the Catalan club.

The midfielder has been the subject of jeers and whistles from Barcelona supporters as he struggles to live up to the €35-million, plus €20 million in add-ons, fee that brought him to the Camp Nou from Valencia in 2016.

Despite reassurances and support from his teammates, Gomes provided a candid view of his first season in the Catalan capital, detailing the difficulty he's faced both on and off the pitch that's turned his dream move into a nightmare.

"I don't feel good on the pitch," he said in an interview with Spanish magazine Panenka, as translated by ESPN FC. "I am not enjoying what I am doing. The first six months (at Barca) were pretty good but then things changed.

"Maybe it's not the right word to use, but it has turned into a kind of hell, because I have started to feel more pressure. With pressure, I feel fine, but with the pressure (I put) on myself, I don't. The feeling that I have during games is bad."

He added: "On more than one occasion, I didn't want to leave my house because (of the way) people look at you," he added. "You have fear of going on the street out of shame.

"I close myself off. I don't allow myself to get rid of the frustration I have. I don't talk to anybody. It's like I feel ashamed. Thinking too much has hurt me. I think about the bad things and what I have to do.

Ernesto Valverde's decision to bring Gomes into last weekend's match against Atletico Madrid triggered angry reactions in the stands when the Portuguese international replaced club legend Andres Iniesta, which prompted the Barcelona manager to criticise supporters.

Goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen also came to Gomes' defense during the draw with Atletico, as the German international was visibly upset with the negative reaction of the home supporters.