ANGEL GOMES turned his back on Man Utd to achieve his dream of getting an England call-up.
The midfielder, now 23, came through the ranks at Old Trafford and was compared to Red Devils legend, Paul Scholes.
But, with game time hard to come by, he left England for pastures new.
United’s offer of a new deal wasn’t enough to convince the starlet his future belonged in the Premier League, and he soon signed for French club Lille.
It was there, via a season loan at Portugal’s Boavista, where he enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2022-2023.
He was mentored by Paulo Fonseca who recognised his qualities in possession and utilised his skills in the anchor man role.
However, after blossoming into one of France’s most cultured schemers, he suffered a horror injury at the beginning of the current campaign that threatened to derail his career.
Unbelievably, Gomes started training with United from the age of six.
At 14, he was already playing for the U18’s, while he captained their U15 side.
Gomes made his debut for the first team in 2017, replacing Wayne Rooney in the 88th minute against Crystal Palace.
At just 16 years, 263 days old, he became the youngest player to represent United since Duncan Edwards in 1953.
He also became the first player born in the 2000s to play in the Premier League.
Internationally, he made his name skippering England’s U17’s to a World Cup win. His future looked bright.
Two years after his debut, Gomes found first team opportunities hard to come by.
Jose Mourinho didn’t fancy him as a player.
And when Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over from the Special One in 2018, things didn’t get much better.
When it was thought Gomes could breakthrough, Scott McTominay burst onto the scene in 2019-2020.
He would make only six first team appearances that campaign.
Even though it was expected that Gomes would sign a new contract with the club, he bravely turned the offer down – believed to be worth £25,000-per-week.
“I wouldn’t say I doubted myself, but there were times when you’d get upset and think back. In football there is no time for that,” he told Sky Sports.
“For me it was getting it out of your head and seeing the new challenge in front and tackling that.”
Once he was released from his Man Utd contract, Gomes was swiftly snapped up by Lille.
Seeing him as one for the future, they immediately loaned him out to Boavista for a season.
That same year in 2021, he sensationally revealed United’s desperation to keep him.
“There was a contract there that was on the table for me to sign,” he said.
“Everyone always says I left for money which, for me, makes no sense.
“It was more to do with the pathway and the opportunity that Lille were bringing. It was a big step, and I knew it was going to be one.”
Gomes helped the Porto club avoid relegation, providing six goals and six assists in the Primeira Liga.
With his head held high, he returned to Lille and was bled into the team during the 2021-2022 season.
A year later, he would become a first team regular under Paulo Fonseca.
A standout performance in a 4-1 win over Auxerre, which saw him complete 90 per cent of his passes and make eight ball recoveries, had French sports writers purring.
The usually hard to please L’Equipe started picking him in their Teams of the Week.
From a anchor man role, he moved into the playmaker position towards the tail-end of the campaign that showed his versatility to play anywhere in midfield.
In the summer, Gomes would continue to be a winner for England – starring in the U21 side under Lee Carsley to win Euro 2023.
Last season, Gomes continued to go from strength to strength.
He was handed the No8 jersey, as worn by past club legends Michel Bastos, Moussa Sow, Salomon Kalou and Xeka.
Better still, he was joint with PSG’s Ousmane Dembele and Brest’s Romain Del Castillo as the league’s leading assist maker – creating eight goals.
A clue to the style of player he wants to become was revealed in an interview with L’Equipe.
He said: “When I was a child, I watched Barcelona a lot. I loved Andrés Iniesta, Xavi, I was inspired by their way of playing.”
While a current influence plays for Man Utd’s bitter rivals.
He continued: “I feel comfortable playing in midfield or more attacking positions, I don’t really have a preference.
“The best in this role is Bernardo Silva. I first look at his presence, he looks a bit like me in size.
“He’s everywhere on the pitch, he’s brave, he doesn’t hide and always makes himself available to his team.”
However, Gomes was lucky to escape serious injury at the beginning of the season in a Ligue 1 game against Stade de Reims.
A high-boot from Reims’ Amadou Kone, which resulted in a red card, saw Gomes knocked out cold as he attempted to header the ball.
He was treated on the pitch for 30 minutes, with players from both sides seen praying as he remained unconscious.
Eventually, he was taken away on a stretcher, before he was sent straight to hospital for further tests.
It was from a hospital bed he reassured fans he was okay.
Gomes even made light of the moment on Instagram.
He wrote: “Just a message to let everyone know that I’m all good!
“The support has been overwhelming and I just Thank God everything is okay, love and blessings!
“P.S. Remind me not to jump for no more headers.”
Despite that threat, don’t expect Gomes to shirk any tackles if boss Lee Carlsey hands him a senior cap.
