Category Sports News

Angel Gomes is another that got away. From the protective bosom at Manchester United to going it alone in France, Gomes feels the weight of the shirt at his former club may have impacted some, but rules it out as a defining factor as to why many have flourished elsewhere.

The England international has diverted from a journey many believed he was destined to take. Having joined United at the age of six, Gomes stepped through the echelons of junior football regarded as one of English football’s brightest prospects.

Indeed, when he made his senior debut – replacing Wayne Rooney as a substitute at 16 years and 263 days old – he became the youngest player to represent Manchester United since Duncan Edwards in 1953.

The hype was deafening. It seemed for all the world that Gomes’ script was written.

Fast forward eight years and he is walking a different path.

Gomes made just five Premier League appearances as a substitute before leaving for Lille in the summer of 2020.

He is on the move again this summer, having agreed to join Champions League-bound Marseille.

“From the moment you step into the place, the coaches are telling you about the history of the club,” says Gomes as he reflects on his time at Manchester United.

“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.”

Gomes’ United recollections are enlightening. He opens up on the ‘black boot policy’ – a rule set within the academy that banned 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.”

Gomes was in good company during his years in the youth system, with Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Scott McTominay and Brandon Williams among the prospects the 24-year-old played with.

Credible advice was always within reach, too. His father Gil was a footballer, making 19 appearances for Portugal Under-21s.

Then there’s godfather Nani, who won eight major titles at Old Trafford.

“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.”

As Gomes edged closer to first-team recognition, the pressure built. Tales of first-team training at United are stuff of legend. Intensity. Honesty. Ferocity.

“I was 16 and training with the likes of Rooney, [Michael] Carrick, [Juan] Mata, and Ander Herrera,” Gomes explains.

“I’d play Fifa with these players and now you’re next to them, it’s surreal. It’s hard to flick the switch and understand you’re part of the team.

Life as a United player is rarely straightforward. Much is made of the ‘weight of the shirt’.

Take McTominay, for example – a player who dipped in and out of first-team football at United before leaving for Napoli last summer.

A year on, the Scot is a hero in Naples – helping Antonio Conte’s side to the Serie A title while nurturing a reputation as one of Italy’s premier midfielders.

Gomes, having been heralded as one of United’s best prospects, found his path to senior international recognition away from Old Trafford.

Yet he doesn’t necessarily concur with the view that he, or certain players, benefit from being free of the weight of the United shirt.

“I think some do,” says Gomes.

“Players may have been intimidated or not really know about the weight, what it carries and what it takes.

“But ultimately, sometimes, it’s down to environment, timing and having the right things in place to help you.

“Some players who have left and gone on to do better than when they were at United, there might be things in place at that certain club, at that moment in time, that helped them succeed.

“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.”

It’s a dynamic Gomes is well placed to discuss. His decision to leave United for Lille, via a loan move to Boavista, in 2020 has proved the making of the midfielder.

That’s not to say leaving Manchester was a straightforward decision.

“It was obviously a difficult process because there are a lot of things that pull you towards staying,” recalls Gomes.

With more than 100 senior appearances under his belt, including Champions League experience, Gomes reflects with contentment at the decision to leave his comfort zone. That’s not to say he always had strength in those convictions.

“It was difficult [leaving England] but also refreshing – the last few years, going under the radar, if anything, helped me concentrate,” Gomes adds.

Away from the English spotlight, Gomes has honed his game, finding a way to overcome the obstacles that may otherwise have held him back.

At 5ft 6in Gomes isn’t as imposing, in a physical sense, as other central midfielders.

“It’s difficult because I feel like it’s something I have had to explain since I was young – I have had to rely on different strengths,” Gomes says.

“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.

Last summer’s England call-up offered Gomes a level of vindication for the tough decisions that came before.

He came on in the 2-0 win over Ireland last September before making his full debut against Finland at Wembley three days later. Under-21 boss Lee Carsley, taking charge of England on an interim basis, showed faith in Gomes’ playmaking abilities.

Gomes plays in a position England have found difficult to fill. The dearth of deep-lying ball-playing midfielders led Gareth Southgate to start Euro 2024 with Trent Alexander-Arnold – a right-back by trade – in the role.

“The funny thing is I think we are [producing players of that type], there’s a lot,” says Gomes.

The midfielder’s control when playing for England drew attention. Against Finland he accumulated 131 touches of the ball – the most of any player on the pitch – with a 94% pass accuracy.

In his next start for England, in the return Nations League fixture in Helsinki, Gomes had 108 touches during his 79 minutes on the field, successfully completed 97% of his passes and assisted the opener for Jack Grealish in a 3-1 win.

Yet Gomes has been forced to contend with jibes that his call-up was a result of favouritism from Carsley, who he’d worked with at under-21 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.

“So I knew it wasn’t a favour, there was a lot of work for me to get to that point.”

Thomas Tuchel’s appointment has stunted Gomes’ progress at international level.

He is yet to feature in either of the German’s squads but, going into next summer’s World Cup, the former Chelsea boss has told Gomes he remains on England’s radar.

“We’ve spoken, we had a couple of video calls and a few messages,” adds 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.

“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.”

Angel Gomes is another that got away. From the protective bosom at Manchester United to going it alone in France, Gomes feels the weight of the shirt at his former club may have impacted some, but rules it out as a defining factor as to why many have flourished elsewhere.

The England international has diverted from a journey many believed he was destined to take. Having joined United at the age of six, Gomes stepped through the echelons of junior football regarded as one of English football’s brightest prospects.

Indeed, when he made his senior debut – replacing Wayne Rooney as a substitute at 16 years and 263 days old – he became the youngest player to represent Manchester United since Duncan Edwards in 1953.

The hype was deafening. It seemed for all the world that Gomes’ script was written.

Fast forward eight years and he is walking a different path.

Gomes made just five Premier League appearances as a substitute before leaving for Lille in the summer of 2020.

He is on the move again this summer, having agreed to join Champions League-bound Marseille.

“From the moment you step into the place, the coaches are telling you about the history of the club,” says Gomes as he reflects on his time at Manchester United.

“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.”

Gomes’ United recollections are enlightening. He opens up on the ‘black boot policy’ – a rule set within the academy that banned 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.”

Gomes was in good company during his years in the youth system, with Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Scott McTominay and Brandon Williams among the prospects the 24-year-old played with.

Credible advice was always within reach, too. His father Gil was a footballer, making 19 appearances for Portugal Under-21s.

Then there’s godfather Nani, who won eight major titles at Old Trafford.

“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.”

As Gomes edged closer to first-team recognition, the pressure built. Tales of first-team training at United are stuff of legend. Intensity. Honesty. Ferocity.

“I was 16 and training with the likes of Rooney, [Michael] Carrick, [Juan] Mata, and Ander Herrera,” Gomes explains.

“I’d play Fifa with these players and now you’re next to them, it’s surreal. It’s hard to flick the switch and understand you’re part of the team.

Life as a United player is rarely straightforward. Much is made of the ‘weight of the shirt’.

Take McTominay, for example – a player who dipped in and out of first-team football at United before leaving for Napoli last summer.

A year on, the Scot is a hero in Naples – helping Antonio Conte’s side to the Serie A title while nurturing a reputation as one of Italy’s premier midfielders.

Gomes, having been heralded as one of United’s best prospects, found his path to senior international recognition away from Old Trafford.

Yet he doesn’t necessarily concur with the view that he, or certain players, benefit from being free of the weight of the United shirt.

“I think some do,” says Gomes.

“Players may have been intimidated or not really know about the weight, what it carries and what it takes.

“But ultimately, sometimes, it’s down to environment, timing and having the right things in place to help you.

“Some players who have left and gone on to do better than when they were at United, there might be things in place at that certain club, at that moment in time, that helped them succeed.

“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.”

It’s a dynamic Gomes is well placed to discuss. His decision to leave United for Lille, via a loan move to Boavista, in 2020 has proved the making of the midfielder.

That’s not to say leaving Manchester was a straightforward decision.

“It was obviously a difficult process because there are a lot of things that pull you towards staying,” recalls Gomes.

With more than 100 senior appearances under his belt, including Champions League experience, Gomes reflects with contentment at the decision to leave his comfort zone. That’s not to say he always had strength in those convictions.

“It was difficult [leaving England] but also refreshing – the last few years, going under the radar, if anything, helped me concentrate,” Gomes adds.

Away from the English spotlight, Gomes has honed his game, finding a way to overcome the obstacles that may otherwise have held him back.

At 5ft 6in Gomes isn’t as imposing, in a physical sense, as other central midfielders.

“It’s difficult because I feel like it’s something I have had to explain since I was young – I have had to rely on different strengths,” Gomes says.

“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.

Last summer’s England call-up offered Gomes a level of vindication for the tough decisions that came before.

He came on in the 2-0 win over Ireland last September before making his full debut against Finland at Wembley three days later. Under-21 boss Lee Carsley, taking charge of England on an interim basis, showed faith in Gomes’ playmaking abilities.

Gomes plays in a position England have found difficult to fill. The dearth of deep-lying ball-playing midfielders led Gareth Southgate to start Euro 2024 with Trent Alexander-Arnold – a right-back by trade – in the role.

“The funny thing is I think we are [producing players of that type], there’s a lot,” says Gomes.

The midfielder’s control when playing for England drew attention. Against Finland he accumulated 131 touches of the ball – the most of any player on the pitch – with a 94% pass accuracy.

In his next start for England, in the return Nations League fixture in Helsinki, Gomes had 108 touches during his 79 minutes on the field, successfully completed 97% of his passes and assisted the opener for Jack Grealish in a 3-1 win.

Yet Gomes has been forced to contend with jibes that his call-up was a result of favouritism from Carsley, who he’d worked with at under-21 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.

“So I knew it wasn’t a favour, there was a lot of work for me to get to that point.”

Thomas Tuchel’s appointment has stunted Gomes’ progress at international level.

He is yet to feature in either of the German’s squads but, going into next summer’s World Cup, the former Chelsea boss has told Gomes he remains on England’s radar.

“We’ve spoken, we had a couple of video calls and a few messages,” adds 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.

“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.”

Technical director Dave Adams says the Football Association of Wales (FAW) is “doing a lot of catch-up” in women’s football as the Wales team prepare for Euro 2025.

Head coach Rhian Wilkinson will name her squad on Thursday for Wales’ first appearance at a major finals in Switzerland this summer.

Speaking to the BBC documentary series Iconic: The Rise of the Women in Red, which tells the story of the Wales women’s team, Adams admits it is only recently that the FAW has invested equally between the men’s and women’s teams.

“It’s very hard for me to comment on the history of it,” said Adams, speaking before qualification was secured.

“But all I can say I suppose, is it probably wasn’t fair or respectful to those athletes at that time.

“My view is, I’ve got a daughter myself so you’d hope that any opportunity that my son’s afforded, my daughter is also afforded.

Prior to 1993 there was no official Wales women’s team affiliated with the FAW.

Their first qualifying match, against Switzerland for Euro 1995, was played at Cwmbran Stadium and attracted a crowd of just 345.

Iconic: The Rise of the Women in Red – hosted by Wales’ record goalscorer Jess Fishlock – explores the team’s journey from those early origins, playing in handed down kit under part-time coaches, to their qualification for Euro 2025, which was secured when they beat Republic of Ireland in Dublin in a play-off final in December.

Adams says the FAW is now committed to equality and investing in the women’s game.

“We’re moving in that direction,” he added.

“We’ve definitely got a lot more equality. We’re doing a lot of catch-up in this space and I think we didn’t invest proportionally on both sides.

“All I can say now is that we’re doing that and we hope that we can make quick progress in this space.

FAW chief executive Noel Mooney says getting more women and girls playing football is one of the governing body’s main priorities.

“If we provide a lot more opportunities to schools and to the younger age groups I think that number will just go up and up and up,” he said.

“We treat the women’s game like a start-up almost because it hadn’t had the investment historically. Now we’re investing in it very heavily.”

In 2021 the FAW launched its first ever women and girls football strategy, with the aim of doubling participation levels to 20,000 registered girls playing football.

“I think we’re one of the highest spending national associations as a percentage of our turnover,” added Mooney.

“It’s changed. There’s a paradigm shift from where it was when I started my career maybe 20 years ago.

“But what we need to do is keep supporting the grassroots game to grow as well.

“So it’s making sure we’ve got all the things in place to make sure that this growth that we see doesn’t plateau.”

Wales face the Netherlands in their first group game at Euro 2025 in Lucerne on 5 July before playing France and England in Saint Gallen.

George Russell says he feels like he’s “driving better than ever” after winning his first race of the season at the Canadian Grand Prix.

The Mercedes driver, who started on pole, held the lead from Max Verstappen at the start and controlled the race from that point.

It was the Briton’s first victory since Las Vegas in November and fifth podium of the 2025 season.

Red Bull lodged a protest, claiming that Russell drove erratically behind the safety car following Lando Norris’ collision with McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, but it was rejected by the stewards.

Russell, 27, also started on pole in Montreal last year but could only finish third.

“It was my mistakes that let the team down but I’m in a different place right now and I feel like I’m driving better than ever. I felt pretty chilled throughout the whole race.”

Russell has been with Mercedes since the 2022 season and is out of his contract come the end of the season.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff suggested it was only a matter of time before a new deal is confirmed.

It was a successful day all round for Mercedes with 18-year-old rookie Kimi Antonelli finishing third for his first podium in Formula 1.

Antonelli – at 18 years and 294 days old – becomes the third-youngest podium finisher of all time behind Verstappen and Lance Stroll.

Starting fourth, he overtook championship leader Piastri at the start and dealt with pressure from the Australian in the closing stages of the race.

“It was so stressful but super happy,” Antonelli said. “The last stint I pushed a bit too hard behind Max and I killed a bit of the front left and I struggled a bit at the end, but I’m really happy to bring the podium home.”

“This track has been good for us and the car has been incredible all weekend. Hopefully we can carry the same momentum into the next few races.”

Russell said Mercedes performed so strongly at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve because a “smooth” track and “low-speed” corners suited the characteristics of the car.

Next on the calendar is Austria from 27-29 June and the Red Bull Ring will be a very different challenge to Montreal.

“It’s going to be on old tarmac, more high-speed corners and it’s going to be hot as well,” Russell said.