PROFILE | Angel Gomes at critical juncture just months into Marseille stay | OneFootball

When Olympique de Marseille moved quickly to sign Angel Gomes on a free transfer last summer, it felt like a market opportunity too good to ignore. The former Manchester United academy product was coming off the back of a season in which he had become a central creative reference point for Lille OSC and earned his first senior England caps, even if his contract situation meant that he featured sparingly in his final months with LOSC. OM were not signing a prospect, but a player entering his prime.

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 match and, despite regular Ligue 1 minutes earlier in the campaign, has recently found himself rotated as De Zerbi has leaned on the double pivot of Pierre-Emile Højbjerg and Matt O’Riley for greater control.

Those difficulties have only sharpened the external pressure. With the 2026 World Cup approaching and England competition fierce, Gomes’ entourage are understood to be open to a potential January departure if his role does not grow. The midfielder himself has been clear about his priorities. “I’d rather be called up by England,” he admitted earlier this season. “Representing the Three Lions remains a big goal for me.”

Yet reducing Gomes’ Marseille spell to frustration alone would miss the bigger picture. There have been clear sparks of quality, most notably when De Zerbi shifted him into a more advanced No.10 role. His first-half display against Brest in November – capped by a free-kick goal – was his most convincing performance in an OM shirt.

A January departure for Gomes?

Freed from the defensive demands of deeper midfield roles, Gomes has looked more at ease between the lines, linking play with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and the wide attackers, and using his close control and vision to destabilise compact blocks.

There is also a broader adjustment at play. Gomes arrived from a Lille side built around his strengths into a Marseille midfield which is constantly changing. De Zerbi’s system leaves little margin for passive performances, and physical robustness remains an area where Gomes must continue to adapt.

With January approaching and England firmly still a distant dream, the question now is simple: does Gomes stick and finally make Marseille his own – or twist, and move again in search of certainty?

GFFN | George Boxall