Watford goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes is yet to make a definitive decision on his retirement ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup Final.
It has long been expected that the Wembley showpiece would be the 38-year-old goalkeeper’s last game.
Gomes said last March he was “99 per cent sure” he would retire at the end of the season, citing his desire to work as a pastor and football intermediary.
However, Standard Sport understands Gomes could yet agree to carry on playing for another year.
Watford head coach Javi Gracia has stressed several times this season how he would like the Brazilian to stay, while fellow keeper Ben Foster made a similar plea at the club’s end-of-season awards earlier this month.
Gomes is certainly fit enough to carry on playing for another season and he has shown in this season’s FA Cup he can still perform at the highest level.
The former Tottenham star has played every minute of the competition so far this season and is expected to keep his place against Manchester City.
A decision over his Watford future, however, is complicated by fellow keeper Daniel Bachmann’s return to the club this summer.
The Austrian, who has been on loan at Kilmarnock, is highly thought of by the coaching staff at Vicarage Road.
Bachmann’s return and Gomes staying would leave Watford with four keepers, including Swedish youngster Pontus Dahlberg, and a decision would have to be made to resolve that situation, potentially by someone going on loan.
Gomes is expected to meet with the club’s hierarchy next week to decide his future.
