On Thursday, May 18th, he achieved a milestone by becoming the youngest recipient of Manchester United’s prestigious Jimmy Murphy Youth Team Player of the Year award – an accolade previously bestowed upon icons like Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, and Marcus Rashford. Just a day later, Jose Mourinho extended a personal invitation for him to join the first-team training sessions.
Impressed by his exceptional talent at such a young age, Mourinho granted Gomes his Premier League debut when he was just 16 years and 263 days old.
Substituting Wayne Rooney in the 88th minute during an exhilarating match against Crystal Palace at the legendary Old Trafford stadium, the teenager made history by becoming the youngest player to represent United since Duncan Edwards.
Recalling the unforgettable moment, Gomes reflects, “Stepping onto that pitch at 16 and then returning to my neighborhood to see familiar faces I grew up with—it felt surreal. Even now, I am still amazed. It was an extraordinary experience.
“Despite the challenges during Mourinho’s tenure at Manchester United, it’s often overlooked that he introduced six academy graduates to first-team action. While divisive, Mourinho played a significant role in Gomes’ journey.
“No one has asked me about Mourinho before, so I’ve never had the chance to speak about him,” Gomes reflects. “Now, with maturity, I realize his significance.
He gave me my debut, and for that, I am immensely thankful.” Following his Premier League debut, Gomes quickly found himself included in matchday squads for various cup fixtures.
On one occasion, however, he experienced a memorable “tongue-lashing” from Mourinho, which left him visibly shaken. Recounting the incident, Gomes reveals, “I’ve never shared this story, but once, during a cup game with the first team after playing for the U21s, Mourinho addressed the squad.
He jokingly singled me out, saying, ‘I am fed up with you!’ Initially, I thought it was banter, but then he critiqued my performance from the previous day. I was stunned. I felt like he despised me.” Reflecting on the incident, Gomes offers a mature perspective.
“With time, I understood his intentions,” he reflects. “Mourinho sought excellence and aimed to instill discipline akin to a first-team player. It was a wake-up call—a reminder that this wasn’t youth football.
Now, I comprehend his approach better. Despite the initial shock, I’d welcome the opportunity to play under him again.” While Gomes admits to losing touch with Mourinho, he fondly recalls the manager’s passionate demeanor, evident in his random FaceTime calls to players.
“He’s incredibly passionate, and that resonates with his players,” Gomes notes. “He genuinely cares. I recall Marcus and Jesse sharing stories of receiving impromptu calls from him. It just underscores his true character.”
