Manchester United saw Angel Gomes walk away from the club in 2020 and he now stands on the brink of a first senior appearance for England.
Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo have become regulars at Manchester United after coming up through the ranks.
The pair are flying the flag for the Manchester area and whilst Rashford has been through ups and downs, their stories have captured hearts and minds in the area.
Not everybody can go on that same path though and some home-grown talents have to leave United in order to progress.
Even a more experienced product of the United academy has now left the club with Scott McTominay signing for Napoli.
Others leave at a younger age and Angel Gomes is a perfect example of that having quit United in bold fashion.
Angel Gomes on Manchester United exit
Gomes had long been tipped for stardom at United and played 10 times for the first team.
Yet when his contract came to an end in 2020, Gomes decided to snub United’s offers and sign for Lille.
After a year on loan at Boavista, Gomes settled in at Lille and has now racked up more than 100 appearances for the club.
Now 24, Gomes has earned a first England call-up and is proving that he made the right decision in leaving United to play first-team action elsewhere.
Gomes has now spoken to the press ahead of potentially featuring for England against Ireland or Finland.
As broadcast by Beanyman Sports, Gomes was asked to pick out the hardest point of his career so far.
Gomes admitted that departing United was the toughest moment as he was taking something of a risk by leaving England for France, via a stint in Portugal.
Gomes suggested that leaving United was a ‘very difficult time’ but it has all paid off having thrived at Lille.
“I’d say the hardest point was obviously leaving England,” said Gomes. “Going to Portugal, into the unknown… there was project there for me to kind of immerse myself into but I never knew how it was going to go.
“It was a step into the unknown for me and then obviously going to France afterwards; learning a new language, adapting to the country, adapting to the football… it was a very difficult time for me to adapt to all of it. I knew in the long run, if I stuck to it, that I would be able to get to where I want to get to,” he added.
Gomes should remain on Manchester United radar
Gomes has developed well in France, emerging as a deep lying midfielder rather than a playmaker or winger, as he was for most of his time in the United ranks.
The praise has been coming in for Gomes with former Lille boss Paulo Fonseca praising him as his ‘most intelligent player’ last season.
Ian Wright has also hailed Gomes, believing that he deserves more credit for how he backed himself upon leaving United.
Premier League teams are no doubt paying close attention to Gomes and United should be one of them.
We are only in phase one of United’s midfield rebuild and more changes will come down the line.
The likes of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen will surely move on in 2025 and United will need midfielders in mind as replacements.
Gomes replacing Eriksen could make sense in terms of a player who can help dictate the play from deep and contribute in the final third.
Gomes felt that he had to leave United for first-team action but a return to Manchester may appeal down the line and United should at least have him on the radar for a possible return.
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