Martinez will become one of the best managers in the world

Everton boss Roberto Martinez will become one of the best managers in the world, insists Sunderland midfielder Jordi Gomez

Sunderland host Everton at the Stadium of Light on Sunday


Jordi Gomez faces his former Swansea and Wigan boss Roberto Martinez

The midfielder believes the Toffees manager deserves to manage in the Champions League

Jordi Gomez has warned Everton that they risk losing manager Roberto Martinez to a Champions League club.

The Sunderland midfielder takes on the man who first brought him to England at the Stadium of Light on Sunday.

Martinez was in charge of Swansea when he signed his Spanish compatriot on a season-long loan deal from Espanyol before taking Gomez with him to Wigan on a permanent basis.

Sunderland star Jordi Gomez believes Roberto Martinez will become one of the best managers in the world

But the 29-year-old believes his old boss is destined for greater things.

When asked if he could manage at a higher level, Gomez said: ‘Yes, of course, no doubts about that.

‘I don't know if he can go to the Champions League (at Everton). With all due respect to Everton he has everything to become one of the top managers in the world.’

Gomez - a free-transfer arrival at Sunderland during the summer - added: ‘He gave me the chance to come to England. I have been here for seven years and I will always be grateful. He helped me a lot during our time together.

‘When I started working with him I thought he was very good. I didn't know him before and I liked his ideas, footballing wise.



‘My first year at Swansea was brilliant, I wanted to stay there, but when he told me to go to Wigan of course I said yes.

‘He knows how to deal with the players. He's very clever. He knows how to explore the weakness of other teams. He has everything to go higher than he is now.’



Gomez, meanwhile, scored his first league goal for Sunderland during Monday’s 3-1 win at Crystal Palace, their first victory since the 8-0 defeat at Southampton.

And the former Barcelona trainee said: ‘Southampton was hard but it is in the past already. Monday night helped. The confidence is fine. It would be good not to have a relegation battle.’