Lille football chief Luis Campos has explained sending Angel Gomes on-loan to Boavista.
LOSC snapped up the England youth international on a free transfer from Manchester United before sending him away to Portugal.
The 20-year-old signed a five-year deal with the French club but was immediately loaned to Boavista for the 2020/21 campaign. Gomes made his competitive debut against Nacional on Saturday and enjoyed a five-star debut. The midfield schemer set up all three of his side's goals in the 3-3 draw, with his second assist being celebrated by teammates as he chipped the ball over the defensive line with a first-time outside-of-the-boot pass.
Going into the game, Campos explained to O Jogo: "It has to do with the need for him to complete his training. Angel needs to play 30/40 games in one season and I think that, if everything goes well, he will demonstrate that he is one of the greatest talents in Europe.
"We are talking about a player who was the captain of the English national team, who won the Under-17 World Cup, and who is also, I think, the captain of the England U-20s. He is a player that I had to follow several times live, both in the Manchester United teams and in the youth teams. For me, I repeat, he is one of the greatest European talents of today.
"It is necessary to create conditions so that all this talent can explode. I believe that Boavista and his coach can help him in that sense. He will enter a championship that can grow his individual level so that, in the future, he can enter an even higher and more demanding level."
Gomes was handed the coveted No10 shirt upon his arrival at Boavista. Playing in Portugal is a return home for the youngster, with his father Gil a former pro who won the U20 World Cup with Portugal playing alongside Luis Figo. Gil would later in his career move to England to play for Salford City.
- updated September 21
