‘Some Man Utd Players May Have Been Intimidated by Weight of Shirt’
BBC Inside Sport
Angel Gomes, once hailed as one of Manchester United’s brightest prospects, believes that the fabled “weight of the shirt” may have stifled some players at Old Trafford even if it didn’t break them.
In an exclusive sit-down with BBC Inside Sport, the 23-year-old midfielder now bound for Marseille after rebuilding his career in France opened up about the intense pressures, high expectations, and the emotional weight that come with donning the famous red jersey.
“From the moment you walk in, you’re told what the club means,” Gomes said.
“You see the Busby Babes, George Best, Charlton… The culture is ingrained early. It’s just something that you carry.”
Having joined United at six and debuting at 16—famously replacing Wayne Rooney, Gomes was touted as the future.
But the future took a different turn. After just five Premier League substitute appearances, he left for Lille in 2020.
“I think some players may have been intimidated by the weight of the shirt,” Gomes admitted.
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“It’s not about failing sometimes it’s just the right environment, the right timing. At United, there’s pressure that can either shape you or shake you.”
The idea of the “shirt being too heavy” is more than metaphor. Gomes describes first-team training as “surreal,” rubbing shoulders with Rooney, Carrick, and Mata as a teenager while trying to process that he was no longer just a fan playing FIFA.
“It’s hard to flick the switch and understand you’re part of that group,” he said.
His United youth days were full of discipline including the famed “black boot policy,” which banned flashy footwear.
“It was their way of instilling humility,” he said. “We all had to be the same.”
Yet away from Old Trafford, Gomes has flourished. Now with over 100 senior games, Champions League experience, and four England caps, he reflects on his decision to leave as difficult, but necessary.
“It was tough leaving home, the comfort zone, but it was refreshing,” he said. “Going under the radar helped me focus.”
Critics have questioned whether his England call-ups were fueled by favoritism particularly from Lee Carsley, who coached him at U21 level but Gomes shrugs that off.
“I knew it wasn’t a favour. There was a lot of work behind it,” he said, citing glowing remarks from Gareth Southgate and impressive Nations League stats, including 131 touches and 94% pass accuracy in one match.
Though Thomas Tuchel hasn’t yet included him in a senior England squad, Gomes is keeping his World Cup dream alive.
“We’ve spoken — he’s supportive. The World Cup is my target, and I know what it’ll take.”
Five years since he left United, Angel Gomes isn’t haunted by what could’ve been.
Instead, he’s living what is with Champions League football on the horizon and a Three Lions jersey still within reach.
