___   >>>   click here to see the aussies at barca  

Devante Clut and Matthew Bilic are competing with New Zealander Steven Carmichael and 97 others from across the world for a chance to shine after a worldwide hunt for the cream of football talent.

The same talent hunt unearthed Central Coast Mariners sensation Tom Rogic two years ago - and now Nike are seeking the next big thing all this week in Barcelona.

The event gives youngsters a chance to train and play at the leading facilities in world football, showcase their skills in front of elite coaches and mentors, and develop and improve their talent, with the ultimate aim of getting noticed by a top club.

The best 16 footballers from the global finals will be chosen by Nike to experience the ultimate training tour as their reward, facing some of the most renowned academy teams in world football, including Manchester United and a U.S. Youth National Team during a once-in-a-lifetime four week tour.

The top 100 arrived in Spain last week for the final stages and finally got down to business in the training grounds of Barcelona's famous youth academy on the outskirts of the city.

In sweltering mid-morning heat, they were put through their paces in an intense workout which tested their skill and stamina.

But the surprise appearance of a cavalcade of Barca stars made them instantly forget their tired limbs when they got the chance of a knockabout with stars including Gerard Pique and Andres Iniesta.

The pair - along with Pedro and others - joined the youngsters on the field for a kickaround before posing for massive team photo - with the boys from Down Under in prime position by the stars.

Devante, 16, from Sydney's western suburbs, even shocked Javier Mascherano by telling them they had a friend in common.

"I have family friends that know him through their family - they're Argentinean and my dad's Argentinean so they got along very well," he revealed. "I used that as my excuse to talk to him...

"But when I saw Iniesta, I was in awe. He's one of my role models and to have him on the same pitch as me, to even just meet him, never mind kick the ball around with me, is just amazing."

He added: "I thought the training session went well and I hope to carry that on tomorrow. It's very intense out there - it's on another level...but I actually expected it to be even higher.

"I was very nervous - I was actually more nervous yesterday but once the players started to arrive and I knew what I was up against, I just concentrated on what I had to do instead of worrying about them.

"I was fine - I was very proud of how I did out there today."

Bilic, 18, added: "I thought the overseas players might have been a little more skillful than us but they were of a similar standard.

"The hardest bit was with all the foreigners, trying to communicate in the game. You try to tell the players around you what to do and they just don't understand what you're saying.

"It was good to get the first session done - now I'm excited for the rest of the week."

   ___   >>>   click here to see the aussies at barca