Everton’s Andre Gomes key to English Premier League side living up to their wage bill – and they need him back as soon as possible

Rare is the occasion when a top-flight football manager walks to a big game. Rarer still is it for a journalist to be with that manager, but in January 2017 I had the privilege of walking towards Camp Nou with Valencia coach Gary Neville for their Copa del Rey semi-final against Barcelona. The last time Neville visited Camp Nou as a player, he was part of the Manchester United team who won the treble in 1999.

Valencia fans looked twice before offering support for their under pressure boss. One even handed him a letter in faltering English stating that he hoped he realised how important it was to coach Valencia. Of course Neville did, he gave it his everything including two hours of Spanish lessons a day, but not knowing the language was a hindrance, as was not having a wiser number two who knew the league well.

While his spell at Valencia is now mocked, he inherited an inexperienced, lopsided squad which had been poorly reinforced in the close season. Neville was at a politically charged club, where expectations are unrealistically high.whoever is in charge.

Those fans were not happy with Rafa Benitez after he led them to a league title and began to despise Unai Emery after he led them to consecutive third-place finishes. Some wanted more, they wanted to be first.

“Watch Andre Gomes carefully,” Neville told me. “He’s a fantastic player. He’s a powerful attacking midfielder similar in style to Frank Lampard or Michael Ballack. He needs to add goals and assists to his game and his passing needs to improve, but he’s good enough to play here.”  

Neville adored the 22-year-old Portuguese midfielder with the magic feet who’d been the best player against Real Madrid the previous month. He was one player who wanted to train more and train alone, to work harder, but he had a terrible game against Barcelona.

Gomes lost possession to Neymar in the centre of the field after six minutes. The Brazilian strode forward, passed to Luis Suarez who promptly gave Barça the lead. It was the first of seven Barcelona goals, but Gomes remained in demand and moved to Barcelona a few months later for €35 million (US$39 million), plus €20 million (US$22.3 million) in add-ons.

The move didn’t work out. Who could replace Xavi and Iniesta? Gomes was given plenty of games, but his confidence looked battered and he was voted worst signing of the season by one Spanish newspaper.

Gomes, who speaks four languages and had a reputation not only for being a stylish footballer but a friendly one too, took it to heart and put himself under too much pressure. When fans booed him it made things worse as he became a peripheral figure, a perennial substitute.

In March 2018, Gomes gave a superb interview to Spain’s Panenka magazine where he said he didn’t feel good playing for Barça, which he described as “a kind of hell, because I have started to feel more pressure” adding “on more than one occasion, I didn't want to leave my house. Because people look at you, having the fear of going on the street out of shame. My friends tell me I am going with the handbrake on.”

He didn’t want sympathy, but he got it and support for what he said. A weight was lifted. Gary Neville was long gone from Valencia but his brother Phil, a coach at the club, would catch the train three hours each way to Barcelona and go through private training sessions with Gomes.

A few months later Gomes joined Everton, where Phil Neville had once been captain, on loan. Gomes thrived enough in England, his third country and fourth club by the age of 25, to make Everton want to sign him permanently. He became hugely popular with fans – and not only because of his brooding good looks – but this season has been tougher.

“Gomes is good when Everton are good,” one sceptical fan told me at the game against West Ham. Everton were 18th and no team member was spared this supporter’s criticism, but they have lost every game Gomes hasn’t played in.

He’d returned from injury and made his first start two weeks ago against West Ham. Everton won. They beat Watford in a key League Cup game last week and he was playing well against Spurs at Goodison Park when he suffered a horrific leg break after a challenge from Son Heung-min. It was a sickening sight.

“It’s a bad moment for the group, it’s more than football,” said compatriot and Everton boss Marco Silva. Benfica, Valencia and Barcelona tweeted their support.

Everton are having a poor season. Their £148 million (US$191.5 million) annual wage bill is only £3 million (US$3.9 million) behind Spurs, who reached the Uefa Champions League final.

Gomes’ injury is the last thing they need and they can only hope the player who deserves a change of fortune can make it back. Gomes is only 26. Hopefully, he still has his best years ahead of him.