A family has paid an emotional tribute to a medical student who died after being attacked during a mass street brawl in Rusholme.
Emanuel Gabriel Simon, 33, died on Tuesday, 16 days after being 'brutally assaulted' on Wilmslow Road.
A murder investigation has been launched.
Emanuel, known as Paulos to family and friends, moved to the UK from Eritrea in East Africa in 2008.
He studied medicine at Manchester University and had 'big dreams and aspirations' of becoming a doctor.
In a tribute his family said: "He worked hard while balancing both his job and his studies and after taking a gap year he had been accepted to join a university in Leeds to continue his studies in medicine.
"Known to his family and friends as Paulos, Emanuel was a gentle giant, easy going, quick to smile and loved life – he was dearly loved.
"Being one of nine siblings, Emanuel was from a large family and his loss will have a huge impact on every one of his friends and family.
"Emanuel was taken far too soon and in such tragic circumstances. He will be missed more than words can say."
The fight, which involved 15 to 20 men, took place outside the Dubai Cafe on Wilmslow Road at 5.15am on Saturday, January 26.
Police are appealing for witnesses.
No arrests have been made.
Det Chief Insp Carl Jones, of GMP’s Major Investigations Team, said: "I would first like to pass on my most sincere of condolences to the family of Emanuel who have had to endure a horrendous few weeks and now have been told of the most dreadful news.
"Our specialist officers are working closely with Emanuel’s family and we are now focused on ascertaining the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident and bringing whoever committed this sickening act to justice.
"We are keen to hear from anyone who may have been involved or witnessed a large brawl directly outside the Dubai Café on Wilmslow Road in the early hours of Sunday 26 January to get in contact with us immediately."
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 4409 quoting incident number 691 of 26/01/2020 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
