Angel Gomes made a bold move when he left Manchester United and English football to join LOSC Lille back in 2020. The risk has paid off for the 23-year-old, who has emerged as a standout player for Les Dogues.
Gomes was in Manchester United's youth system from 2006 to 2017 and eventually made it to the first team. Even though the Red Devils was his boyhood club, the midfielder opted to leave in search of minutes to further his development.
Lille signed the English player in 2020 and loaned him to Portuguese side Boavista for the 2020-21 season. He made 30 appearances in the Liga Portugal, scoring six goals and registering six assists.
In an interview with The Athletic in July 2023, Gomes shared how difficult the decision-making process was since Manchester United was all he had ever known.
🔴 Angel Gomes with the finish ✨@losclive || #UECL pic.twitter.com/xFJs6wuws6
— UEFA Europa Conference League (@europacnfleague) November 24, 2023
“It’s a big gamble leaving United, leaving my home in Manchester, going into the unknown. I remember being home thinking, ‘There’s no going back. I’ve actually made this decision here’. And in my head, I was thinking the worst. I felt like I took a thousand steps backwards, but it’s all coming to fruition. It’s gone better than I imagined it because of how down and negative I was at that time. But I’m just thankful to myself, really.”
“It was a decision I chose to make. A very, very difficult decision. When I speak about it, no one understands how difficult it was. The amount of things I’ve had to weigh up, the amount of things I’ve had to miss — like being back here (in Prestwich) now, being able to go pick up my nieces from school, missing birthdays — that’s stuff that people don’t see.”
Gomes has blossomed into one of the top talents for LOSC under manager Paulo Fonseca since the Portuguese coach arrived in 2022. Last season, Lille's No. 8 made strides for the French side, appearing in 39 matches across all competitions while scoring three goals and registering six assists.
This season, Gomes has seen an uptick in assists, recording eight so far in all competitions while scoring two goals and making 37 total appearances. In a 2022 interview on The Ligue 1 Show, the midfielder noted the impact that Fonseca has had on his career thus far.
“The style that he plays is a style that I'm kind of used to, so it's been great so far. He's very hands-on, very objective, and he knows what he wants. He's very technical and very detailed. He looks into everything and his staff, too. I want to better every aspect of my game, so it helps me a lot, and I think it helps the other players also.”
Cadeau pour bien débuter la semaine :
— LOSC (@losclive) January 23, 2023
le magnifique but d'@agomes_47 face à Pau 🧨 pic.twitter.com/LL5e1R9Q2b
It's crucial for Lille that Gomes plays a major role in securing a spot in the UEFA Champions League next season and winning a Conference League trophy this campaign.
The upcoming tie against Aston Villa in the Conference League quarterfinals could serve as the perfect opportunity for Gomes to demonstrate to English football fans that he's evolved since his departure in 2020.
