Man United academy product Angel Gomes has claimed players have struggled to cope with the ‘weight of the shirt’ at the Premier League giants, before moving on to thrive elsewhere.
The England international joined the Red Devils at the age of six and made his debut at 16 in 2017, becoming the youngest player to represent the club since Duncan Edwards in 1953.
Gomes ultimately made 10 appearances for Man United’s senior team before opting to join Lille on a free transfer in 2020.
The midfielder, who has agreed to join Marseille this summer, has thrived in Ligue 1 and earned four England caps last year under then interim manager Lee Carsley.
Gomes is among the players to have impressed since leaving Man United in recent years, with several having starred across the continent after being criticised for their displays at Old Trafford.
The 24-year-old, speaking to the BBC, suggested some players have underestimated the ‘weight of the shirt’.
Angel Gomes has claimed some players have been intimidated by playing for Man United
Ex-Man United midfielder Scott McTominay was named Serie A’s MVP after helping Napoli win the title
Brazilian winger Antony thrived on loan at Real Betis after his nightmare spell at Man United
Gomes claimed some players may have been ‘intimidated’ by playing for Man United and have struggled to live up to expectations of playing for the record 13-time Premier League champions as they seek to win the title again for the first time since 2012.
‘I think some do,’ Gomes said .’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 comments come after several maligned Man United players have left the club to enjoy success elsewhere this season.
Scott McTominay, another Man United youth product, was named as Serie A’s most valuable player this season.
McTominay joined Napoli last summer in a 27.5m move, with the Scotland international contributing 12 goals and six assists from midfield to help Antonio Conte’s side claim the title.
Gomes made 10 senior appearances for Man United before leaving on a free back in 2020
He suggested some Man United players have underestimated the ‘weight of the shirt’
Gomes enjoyed a five-year spell at Lille before agreeing to join Marseille this summer
Brazilian winger Antony has been derided for his performances at Man United since an £82million switch from Ajax, having only contributed 12 goals and five assists in 96 matches.
The winger has been revitalised after joining Real Betis on loan in January, with the Brazilian having scored nine times and provided five assists.
Antony’s turnaround in form in La Liga has led to him earning a recall to the Brazilian national team.
He admitted last month that he had fallen out of love with football at Man United.
‘I wanted to do things, but they didn’t seem to work out because I wasn’t happy, I didn’t feel that desire to play football, and I needed to find myself and be happy again because playing football was always something I loved,’ Antony said.
‘I went through difficult times [at Manchester United] when I no longer felt that pleasure. I even always told my brother, I told him that I couldn’t take it anymore.
‘[My brother] told me to hold on a little longer, that things were going to change . It even made me emotional, because 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.
McTominay made 255 appearances for Man United but was much maligned while at the club
Antony broke down in tears last month when explaining his struggles when at Man United
‘So, for me it was very complicated, but thank God, with the help of my family and mainly with the help of God, I managed to get ahead and today I am very happy here.’
Man United endured their worst Premier League campaign last season, with Ruben Amorim’s side finishing 15th in the table.
The Red Devils will not play in Europe next season after losing to Tottenham in last month’s Europa League final, which saw them miss out on Champions League qualification.
