Yes, that’s a fun and unusual story that shows how Bafétimbi Gomis used a modern, gamer-style approach to integrate into his new team at Swansea!
Before officially joining the Welsh Premier League club, Gomis admitted he played Football Manager as Swansea City for about a month. His goal? To learn about his new teammates—their playing styles, strengths, and positions.
Here’s what he said:
“Before signing here, I spent a month playing Football Manager with Swansea to get to know my teammates. The game helped me learn a lot about their characteristics.”
This story illustrates two interesting things:
🎮 Football Manager as a Tool
Gomis used Football Manager, usually seen as just a game, as a research tool to prepare himself for his real-life move.
It allowed him to familiarize himself with the squad—names, roles, attributes—which likely made adapting to the dressing room and tactical setup smoother.
⚽ Quick Adaptation
Gomis joined Swansea on a free transfer after his Lyon contract ended in June.
He scored his first goal shortly after, showing he adapted well—perhaps with help from his virtual scouting.
It’s a quirky, clever story and a good example of how today’s footballers can use technology and gaming to gain a real-world edge. Gomis clearly took his move seriously, both on and off the pitch.
