Why Angel Gomes Believes His Move Away From United Was the Right Call | OneFootball

Angel Gomes and the Path Not Taken: How Leaving Manchester United Forged a Future Abroad

Rewriting Expectations

The story of Angel Gomes is one of potential realised far from where it began. Once heralded as Manchester United’s next great academy product, the midfielder’s journey has been anything but conventional. In a sport where staying put often signals success, Gomes took a different route—choosing development over prestige, substance over spotlight.

Having joined United at six, Gomes was long seen as the crown jewel in a famed youth system. His senior debut at 16 years and 263 days old, replacing none other than Wayne Rooney, etched his name in the club’s record books as the youngest debutant since Duncan Edwards in 1953. That moment felt like the beginning of something historic.

“The hype was deafening, it seemed for all the world that Gomes’ script was written.” Highlighted by an article from BBC Sport.

But football scripts are seldom linear. Eight years later, Gomes has charted a course through France with Lille, a loan to Boavista, and now, another new chapter awaits at Champions League-bound Marseille.

Photo IMAGO

Culture Carried, Not Cursed

In his BBC Sport interview, Gomes is clear-eyed about United’s influence. It was not the “weight of the shirt” that curtailed his trajectory, he insists. The atmosphere at Carrington is steeped in mythology and memory. It’s immersive, but not inhibiting—for everyone.

“From the moment you step into the place, the coaches are telling you about the history of the club,” explains Gomes.“The Busby Babes, they show you pictures of George Best and Bobby Charlton. The culture is set early.“You know everything about the club and what it represents. It’s just something that you carry.”

That burden, if it can be called one, is shared. What separates those who rise or fall in that environment, Gomes argues, isn’t pressure—it’s the ecosystem, the timing, the context.

“I think some do,” says Gomes, referring to players struggling under the shirt’s legacy.“But ultimately, sometimes, it’s down to environment, timing and having the right things in place to help you.“Sometimes it’s not as black and white as they failed or they’ve not held their own there because of the weight of the shirt.”

This is an intelligent and mature reframing. Gomes does not point fingers, nor does he lionise his own choices. He talks instead of fit, of opportunity, and of being brave enough to step away when necessary.

From Policy to Possibility

Some of Gomes’ most vivid memories from his time at United come not from matches or teammates but from culture-setting policies. Among the most telling is the ‘black boot policy’—a curious but calculated tradition at the club’s academy that outlawed colourful boots.

“You would play against other teams and they’d be wearing colourful boots that you wanted to wear, because your idols wore colourful boots,” says Gomes.“But thinking about it now, it was perfect because they wanted everyone to be the same.”

Equality. Identity. Humility. These are not just branding words at Manchester United, they’re principles embedded in how future stars are shaped.

Gomes was in elite company during his youth years: Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Scott McTominay, and Brandon Williams all shared training pitches with him. Many have had their highs and lows since. Rashford became a household name. McTominay, once in and out at United, is now a Serie A title-winner with Napoli.

Gomes’ own story took him abroad, but not into obscurity. It was a detour that forced him to mature, to learn without the oxygen of the Premier League spotlight.

“It was obviously a difficult process because there are a lot of things that pull you towards staying,” he says of leaving Old Trafford.“But then you have to think about what is right for your career. There were a lot of things I sacrificed.”

More than 100 senior appearances and Champions League football later, it is hard to argue with his decisions.

Quiet Growth, Bold Return

Living abroad gave Gomes the space to develop without scrutiny. He admits it was “refreshing”—a pause from the expectation that once surrounded his every appearance in England. But it wasn’t isolation. Support came from his father, Gil, a former Portugal Under-21 international, and his godfather, Nani, who knew the pressure of Old Trafford as well as anyone.

“Growing up I always had that support from my family, but when I had conversations with Nani and Dad, it’s different because I know they have been there,” says Gomes.“Going to Nani’s house, how he lives his life, how he treats people, his behaviour off the pitch – looking back now I took a lot from him.”

Now 24, Gomes sees the pitch differently. He is a midfielder not in role, but in essence.

“When someone asks me I say I’m a midfielder, because I can play as a six, eight or 10. When I was in Portugal I played on the left, false nine or on the right. I feel I can play anywhere on the pitch.”

“I’m technical, I like to be on the ball, dictate, help in all areas of the pitch, receive the ball in any area.“Paul Scholes was similar in that sense. Thiago [Alcantara], Deco they are midfielders, not sixes or eights, just midfielders – that’s who I want to emulate.”

This adaptability served him well when his international opportunity finally came.

England Recognition and Unjust Noise

Last September, Gomes was called into England’s senior side. He marked the occasion with calm and class, coming off the bench in a 2–0 win over Ireland and starting in a dominant 3–1 win over Finland.

Against Finland he accumulated 131 touches, the most of any player, and completed 94% of his passes. In the reverse fixture in Helsinki, he had 108 touches in 79 minutes, 97% pass accuracy, and an assist for Jack Grealish.

Yet not everyone was impressed. Some critics suggested nepotism, referencing his prior work with interim boss Lee Carsley at U21 level.

“It was difficult to hear people saying it was a favour because I knew personally it wasn’t,” says Gomes.“Before the last Euros there was a press conference that Gareth [Southgate] gave and I was mentioned.“I remember getting a pre-call selection for one squad. I thought it could have been a joke so I forwarded the message to Lee Carsley and he said it was genuine.”

Such comments sting, particularly for a player whose metrics and performances speak for themselves. For Gomes, the focus is forward. Thomas Tuchel’s arrival has stalled his England progression for now, but he remains optimistic.

“We’ve spoken, we had a couple of video calls and a few messages,” says Gomes.“He is very good in the sense that he is always watching and supporting. It’s a very good relationship in that you can speak and message at any moment.“I’ve not managed to get into the squad [under Tuchel] yet but it’s something I will try hard to do.”

His ambition remains bold and clear.

“The World Cup is the aim. The pinnacle. That’s an aim of mine and I know what needs to be done to get me there.”

Redemption in Movement

Angel Gomes’ journey is one that reminds us that leaving Manchester United does not signify failure. In fact, for players like him, it can be the making of something far more resilient and refined. His move to Marseille signals a return to the elite level and, more importantly, it confirms the credibility of his process.

There is something quietly powerful in how Gomes tells his story—no bitterness, no bravado. Just clarity, humility, and relentless belief.

He may be another that got away, but Angel Gomes is far from lost.

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

From an England fan’s perspective, this is a story of promise finally getting its due platform. Angel Gomes, once seen as another name in a long list of “could-have-beens”, is now demonstrating exactly why patience matters. His technical control, versatility and intelligence on the pitch fill a void England have often struggled to address—particularly in deep-lying midfield roles. With Gareth Southgate leaning on converted full-backs like Trent Alexander-Arnold to patch that hole, Gomes’ emergence feels timely.

It is easy to root for him, especially when you consider his route. Leaving Manchester United at 19, watching others get chances while he forged his reputation abroad—many would have faded. Not Gomes. He worked. He learned. And now, with Marseille and the Champions League awaiting, there’s expectation that he might become indispensable to England’s midfield.

What supporters want now is consistency and trust from the national team. Tuchel may have stalled his progression, but with performances like those against Finland, Gomes has already laid down a strong argument. The dream of seeing him dictating play in an England shirt at the World Cup is no longer romantic. It’s entirely realistic.