Angel of the north is now flying in France

MANCHESTER LAD GOMES LEFT FIRST LOVE UNITED TO FIND SUCCESS WITH LILLE – WITH NANI PUSHING HIM ON

ENGLAND UNDER-21 star Angel Gomes has revealed why he quit Manchester United and how his godfather Nani helped to turn him into a hit.

Gomes reported for his first Young Lions duty after proving himself at French club Lille this season.

The midfielder admitted he felt the pressure of being the youngest United debutant since Duncan Edwards, aged just 16 and 263 days.

And Gomes says he left the “biggest club in the world” – despite having a new contract on offer – to ensure a pathway to first-team football abroad. He said: “To get through that was difficult.

“There was a contract on the table for me to sign.

“Everyone refers to me leaving for more money, which makes no sense. Why would anyone leave

Manchester

United?

“It’s the biggest club in the world, with a lot of money, and I went to the French league to play for Lille.

“That made no sense. It was to do with the pathway and the opportunity Lille were bringing.

“At the time I had spoken to lots of people and it was a decision I chose to make. Leaving the club you have grown up at and been raised at is always difficult.”

He is critical of the pressures and negativity that

came from being the Reds’ youngest debutant in 70 years.

But Salford-raised Gomes was guided behind the scenes at United by Nani, who played for the club between 2007 and 2015, and is close mates with his dad Gil.

He said: “Nani’s influence has been massive from when I was young at United.

“He was someone I grew up idolising, on and off the pitch.

“He was the first footballer I knew and he was amazing, humble and proved to me footballers are normal people.”

Gomes has spoken to Nani regularly since, adding: “He always saw me in the academy and I was a young kid playing FIFA at his house... just being a kid. He has shown me lots off the pitch. For instance when I was in Portugal last season it was all about offthe-ball and the intensity, and to work on that side of the game.”

Gomes, 21, earned his international call-up because boss Lee Carsley saw he had added strict discipline to his renowned tricks and skills.

He added: “The dream is to play Champions League football and win things and play for England.

“That has always been important for me and I wear the shirt with pride.”