Angel Gomes has gave a very nice interview to A Bola over the weekend. The Manchester United youngster, who also plays for England’s U16 team, uses his roots from Portugal as he tries to succeed in English football.
He’s the son of Gil, a Portuguese player who won the U20 World Cup in 1991, being part of a very important generation for the country. Gil is the one who guides Angel in his career.
The boy was born in London and moved to Manchester a few years later. He’s been in Manchester United’s youth levels for years, and he also takes advice from Gil out of club training.
“My father always told us that the best way to be better and better was to be involved in street football. There is where you learn the tricks, that’s where you improve the technique, is where you gain the basis for success when you get in a team.
“The hours I spent playing football in a garden in front of my house… This was the part where my father was angry because he had to go call to come to lunch or dinner. Although I got many reprimands, I’m sure it helped me a lot.”
Even without much contact with the first team, Gomes had the opportunity to meet Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani when he was just a kid.
It happened a few years ago, when his father arranged a surprise: “They were two of my idols and by that time my father was working at Manchester United. I insisted so much that one day, on my birthday, he made me a surprise. I went into a room and my eyes twinkled… Cristiano was there, Nani and many others. Imagine my joy; I was close to some of the best players in the world and it made me crazy. I ended up taking pictures with some of them.”
“Then Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani went to training. When the work was over, Carlos Queiroz approached, he was the assistant of Alex Ferguson and the two returned to spend a bit of time with me. It was fantastic: they taught me few skills and so I tell you that was a birthday that I will never forget.”
On reaching the first team and working with José Mourinho, Gomes says: “I believe I won’t be alongside all those stars immediately. I am only fifteen, I still have a lot to learn, but I think I can get there. It may take a few years, but surely Mourinho is coming to stay for a long time.”
