Goncalo Ramos reveals harrowing 20-day 'bleeding and vomiting' ordeal as €80m PSG striker opens up on 'difficult' first season at Parc des Princes

The Portuguese striker initially joined Paris Saint-Germain on loan from Benfica but the transfer was made permanent in November after the club agreed to pay a massive transfer fee of €80 million (£70m/$87m). Ramos, though, failed to live up to the hype as he scored just three Ligue 1 goals in the first half of the season.

Ramos has now opened up about his early struggles in France, telling Record: "I had a difficult December. I started with a virus, which then turned into a colon infection. I spent 20 days bleeding and vomiting, unable to eat, and with very high fevers. I ended up going to the hospital four or five times and being put on a drip. I lost eight kilos and I was in the middle of an adaptation period in France, so this mishap did not help.

"Then I had to put weight back on in the middle of the season, doing preseason in January, which is not easy. I was a bit lucky because it's a quieter month in terms of competitions, but it was difficult to get back into rhythm after losing so much weight. I started on the 10th of December and didn't train until the 21st. I had a relapse at Christmas, went to the hospital and didn't come back until the 30th. That's when I got back, on the 30th, that I started training 100%."

Things have changed for the Portugal international since the turn of the year, as he has scored six goals in 12 games across all competitions to earn a regular spot in Luis Enrique's starting lineup.

The 25-year-old will be next seen in action for Portugal, who are scheduled to face Sweden and Slovenia in two international friendlies on March 21 and March 26 respectively.