United record-breaker “open to January move” in pursuit of World Cup dream

Former Manchester United youngster Angel Gomes is not having the easiest of times this season. Time at United Gomes joined the Manchester United youth team in 2006 and stayed at the club until 2020. He made his debut off the bench in May 2017, replacing Wayne Rooney. At 16 years and 263 days old, he became the youngest player to represent Manchester United since Duncan Edwards in 1953, as well as the first player born in the 2000s to appear in the Premier League. The England international did not remain at United, leaving the club for LOSC Lille on a free transfer. Lille success He spent five seasons at the French club, playing 134 times and scoring a total of 10 goals. The Carrington product impressed so much that he was called up to the senior England team in 2024. In addition, he was frequently linked with a move back to the Premier League, with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur both regularly rumoured to be keen to bring him back to England. Nonetheless, he moved to Olympique de Marseille in the summer, where he has played 18 times this season and scored three goals. Struggles According to getfootballnewsfrance.com, Gomes has not had the same impact at Marseille as he did at Lille. It seemed a no-brainer to pick up the star on a free transfer in the summer, but the website states that, “the reality at the Vélodrome has been more complex. Adapting to Roberto De Zerbi’s demanding positional play and Marseille’s physical rhythm has not been seamless, and Gomes has struggled to establish himself as an automatic starter.” He has yet to start a Champions League game and is finding himself involved less and less in league matches as the season has progressed. What’s more, “Gomes’ entourage are understood to be open to a potential January departure if his role does not grow” as he is desperate to represent The Three Lions once again ahead of the World Cup. Nonetheless, he has shown more improvement in a freer attacking number ten position than in a deeper midfield role, so perhaps there is a blueprint for his success under De Zerbi at Marseille. Angel Gomes career stats ClubMatchesGoalsYears Active Man United1002006-2020 Lille134102020-2025 Marseille1832025- Boavista (loan)3262020-2021 Source: Wikipedia The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Alex Browne Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Alex has a Master’s degree from Queen’s University Belfast and La Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Tarragona, Spain. Having lived in the country since 2011, Alex is The Peoples Person’s Spanish football expert and is fluent in both Spanish and Catalan. He dreams of witnessing a United captain triumphantly hoisting the Premier League and Champions League trophy in the air once more.