'I was nearly crying!' — Ex Manchester United youngster recalls bizarre Jose Mourinho rant at dinner table

Former Manchester United youngster Angel Gomes has admitted that he was once close to tears after being on the receiving end of a Jose Mourinho ear-bashing.

Gomes — who left United in June 2020 after declining to sign a new contract at the club — was handed his first-team debut at Old Trafford by Mourinho on the final day of the 2016/17 Premier League campaign, replacing Wayne Rooney in the closing stages of the Reds' 2-0 win over Crystal Palace. The attacking-midfielder had impressed at youth level throughout the campaign and had done enough to catch Mourinho's attention.

Despite continuing to impress for the Under-18s and Under-23s the following season, Gomes only made one further senior appearance for United before Mourinho was sacked in December 2018. He stepped off the bench in the closing stages United's 4-0 FA Cup fourth-round victory over Yeovil Town in January 2018.

READ MORE: Angel Gomes explains why he left Manchester United and details emotional exit

Although Gomes remained a young player at the time, it did not stop Mourinho from venting the same level of anger at him as he might have done to a seasoned, senior professional. The Portuguese was furious with the youngster and made his feelings known while the squad was enjoying a meal.

"I've never actually told this story before but one time, he took me to a cup game with the first-team after I'd played with the U21s," Gomes told SPORTbible. "We were at the dinner table and he's come around speaking to everyone. He then looks at me and says, 'I am f****d with you!'

"At the time he was having a laugh with everyone, so I thought he was joking with me. I asked why and he brought up my performance from the day before.

"He must have thought I'd played s**t. I