FORMER Manchester United star Angel Gomes has admitted the “weight of the shirt” can hold players back at the club.
Gomes, 24, came through the ranks at Old Trafford and went on to make ten senior appearances.
The midfielder made his debut at just 16 years old and was tipped to be the next big thing.
But he eventually left in 2020 to join Lille after failing to nail down a place in the squad.
Like many in recent years, Gomes has impressed away from the club and even earned his first senior England call-up last summer.
Asked if players benefit when free from the pressure of playing for Man Utd, Gomes told the BBC: “I think some do.
“Players may have been intimidated or not really know about the weight, what it carries and what it takes.
“But ultimately, sometimes, it’s down to environment, timing and having the right things in place to help you.
“Some players who have left and gone on to do better than when they were at United.
“There might be things in place at that certain club, at that moment in time, that helped them succeed.
“Sometimes it’s not as black and white as they failed or they’ve not held their own there because of the weight of the shirt.”
Gomes is set to move to Champions League side Marseille this summer.
And he is not the only one to have come on leaps and bounds since quitting Man Utd.
Scott McTominay is worshipped at Napoli after winning the Serie A title and being voted Player of the Year this season.
Antony enjoyed a successful loan at Real Betis, scoring nine goals and firing them to the Conference League final.
The winger even admitted when reflecting on his tough time at Man Utd: “I didn’t feel that desire to play football.
“I needed to find myself and be happy again because playing football was always something I loved.
“I went through difficult times when I no longer felt that pleasure. I even always told my brother, I told him that I couldn’t take it anymore.
“They were very hard days for me. Only I know what it was like to be there at home, not having the strength to even play with my son, going days without eating, staying locked in my room.”
On their new leases of life elsewhere, Rio Ferdinand said to ESPN: “They came into an environment at United which was lacking confidence, under stress, deep scars from things that have gone on before, and a team changing now, again tactically.
“It’s different at United. The pressure is huge. And these guys have gone to Napoli and they’ve gone to Betis, no disrespect, but smaller clubs in terms of pressure.
“And you’re seeing the best version of them. I’m happy for them, it’s good.”
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