Manchester Metropolis bought full-back Sergio Gomez in the summertime at a loss. He is thriving at Actual Sociedad in a brand new place and may add Manchester United to his listing of scalps this week.
Manchester United are used to seeing gamers go away and flourish elsewhere. It is much less widespread to see a former Manchester Metropolis participant try this.
Metropolis’s summer time switch window in 2022 will go down as one among their greatest given it noticed Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez arrive. One other forgotten signing was Sergio Gomez, purchased on a budget from Anderlecht to cowl left-back regardless of most of his profession approaching the wings.
It is truthful to say Gomez by no means actually lower the grade at Metropolis – but his effort for the membership he supported from childhood may by no means be questioned and there will probably be loads of smiles on the Etihad over his progress at Actual Sociedad.
After signing and declaring his love for Metropolis, Gomez began effectively on the Etihad and notched an help within the 6-3 derby demolition of United that season. “An unbeatable first derby. Manchester is blue!” he posted after that recreation.
Gomez picked Metropolis from his Catalan dwelling when his brother returned from a college journey to England with a Metropolis shirt that had ‘Silva 21’ on the again. After following David Silva’s footsteps to Metropolis, he then took the identical exit path to Sociedad.
The Spaniard received the treble with Metropolis in his first season however began simply ten instances that season. In his lowest level, his calamitous efficiency at Southampton within the League Cup in 2023 noticed his half-time substitution cheered by Metropolis followers.
Nonetheless, he referred to as coaching with Pep Guardiola a dream come true and genuinely appeared like a fan who could not consider his luck at enjoying for his boyhood membership. He might not have been adequate at left-back and misplaced additional ahead, however his effort and want to make it work may by no means be questioned.
“I wish to keep [at City],” he stated that summer time, whereas shining as a winger in Spain’s run to the U21 Euro remaining. “I will go there from the primary day of pre-season with a whole lot of want to indicate him that I can have extra minutes and I will attempt to make it as troublesome as attainable for him.
“The thought is to remain there. That is my want.”
However the second season did not fairly go to plan with fewer begins (4) and none coming within the Premier League. He was omitted from the FA Cup remaining all collectively in opposition to United and began extra video games for Spain within the Olympics on the finish of the season than the marketing campaign that has simply ended.
An exit made sense for everybody and Sociedad noticed what Guardiola could not. Explaining his change in mindset, Gomez admitted the second season of backwards progress instructed him what he wanted to know.
“You might be virtually in the most effective membership on the planet, and though that it may be troublesome to play, you see that you’ve got potentialities, and you are feeling like attempting,” Gómez instructed AS.
“However you need minutes and that’s why Actual’s curiosity got here on the proper time. Then the Olympic Video games additionally helped me acquire confidence and the beginning with Actual was additionally good, to the purpose that due to it they referred to as me as much as the nationwide staff.”
A gold medallist after which a full worldwide, Gomez has already began extra for Sociedad (26) than his two years at Metropolis. If he performs each legs vs United within the Europa League he’ll surpass his whole appearances in Sky Blue in lower than a full season for his new membership.
Three objectives and 5 assists from a extra attacking temporary sees Gomez return to his roots as a winger and artistic participant – one thing he’ll hope to showcase in opposition to United and subsequent week when he returns to Manchester for the primary time. Sociedad have overwhelmed Barcelona and Ajax and drawn with Atletico Madrid this time period with Gomez that includes usually.
“Defending the badge of a membership that I’ve all the time beloved is priceless,” Gomez stated on his departure from Metropolis, accompanying a video together with his help vs United. “I’ll proceed cheering from afar as a result of this membership is a part of my coronary heart!”
How he would love to indicate Metropolis what they’re lacking, whereas additionally making United’s struggles worse, this week.
