Angel Gomes admits he would never be able to rule out a return to Manchester United amid growing transfer interest in the midfielder.
Gomes, 24, came through the academy ranks at United and made his senior debut as a teenager before quitting Old Trafford for Lille in 2020. He has gone on to enhance his reputation during his four years in France and won his maiden England caps last month.
The playmaker is a man in demand after entering the final year of his contract with Lille and has suitors across Europe ahead of the winter transfer window. And while it remains to be seen if United are one of them, he says it would be hard to say no to his old club.
“As amazing as it would be, after finding happiness abroad I know [playing in the Premier League] is not the be-all and end-all,” Gomes said of transfer interest in an interview with The Times.
“There’ll always be that sentimental soft spot, so of course it’d be difficult to say no.”
The Telegraph reported last month that teams from the Premier League and Europe are monitoring Gomes, who is free to speak to overseas clubs in January. That could prompt Lille to try and sell him in January, which is now their final chance to cash in.
Newcastle are one of the only named clubs who are alleged to be interested in Gomes. Intriguingly, his former Manchester United academy coach, Nicky Butt, told PA last month that the midfielder could 'do better' than some of the English clubs who were likely to be in for him.
“I think he can do better than some of the teams that will be in for him in the Premier League. The Spanish league is written all over for Angel. He could play in the Premier League easily. He could play for City tomorrow, ”he said.
“When Angel left United, I said to him, ‘You’re going to go on and have an unbelievable career and I wouldn’t be surprised if you end up playing against Manchester United for Barcelona or Real Madrid in the next five, six, seven years’, because he was that good. And I’m not just saying that now that he’s made his England debut, I genuinely thought that a long time ago.
“He could play in the Premier League easily. He could play for [Man] City tomorrow. But then you put him in at Man United at the minute and he’s got to have the legs to go through the centre of midfield where there’s a massive gap, people run through the Man United midfield like you wouldn’t believe. Then it’s a really difficult game for him.”