LIONEL MESSI asked for Angel Gomes' shirt at the end of a match last season, the former Manchester United starlet has revealed.
Gomes, 22, quit Old Trafford for Lille in 2020 despite having been offered a new deal at United.
A successful loan spell at Boavista followed, before he became a regular in Lille's side in Ligue 1.
He first crossed paths with Messi during a match vs Paris Saint-Germain last season.
After his side's 5-1 home defeat, Gomes waited for the Argentine in the tunnel in order to try to get his shirt.
Messi courteously obliged – but left the England youth international stunned when he asked for his in return.
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Speaking to Football Focus, Gomes said: "It was just like a fanboy moment, like, I can’t lie. [Messi] gave me his shirt, he took his t-shirt off and he gave it to me.
"And for me, I was like, ‘Alright, happy days’ like, cheers, and he was like, ‘Wait, are you not giving me your shirt?’
"And I was like, ‘What? You want my shirt?’ And he was like ‘Yeah!’ So I was like, ‘Alright.’
"From watching him on TV, watching videos of him actually playing, to playing against him and getting his shirt, like, It was surreal for me."
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Gomes made ten first team appearances for Manchester United before quitting for France.
He has emerged as a key man in midfield for Lille, starting in all but two of their Ligue 1 matches this term.
The diminutive ace has 11 England Under-21s caps, and could soon target a senior call-up.
Messi, meanwhile, has previously admitted that he seldom asks for other players' shirts.
He said: "I don’t ask for shirts, I usually swap them, but I asked [Zinedine] Zidane once.
"If there is an Argentine I swap it with him, but, unless someone asks me, I’m not asking anyone."
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