JJ Gabriel is one of the most exciting young talents to ever come through Man United’s prestigious academy.
JJ Gabriel celebrates scoring at Carrington.(Image: Manchester United FC via Getty Images)
JJ Gabriel enjoys video games and comes out of his shell once he gets to know someone.
In many ways he is a normal 14-year-old, but his extraordinary talent is revealed when he steps onto a football pitch. There is certainly nothing normal about what Gabriel can do with a ball at his feet.
Gabriel is a rising star in Manchester United’s academy. The Manchester Evening News would not usually highlight a player so young, but there is a buzz in youth football about what Gabriel could achieve. Some academy followers suggest he could be the best talent United’s academy has ever seen.
That is quite the prediction considering the graduates who have come before Gabriel, who already has more than 200,000 followers on Instagram and a sponsorship deal with Nike.
Academy coaches who have worked with Gabriel have marvelled at the youngster’s skillset and have struggled to find weaknesses, despite playing him years above his age group.
Gabriel idolises Neymar and some of his goals are reminiscent of the Brazilian at the peak of his powers. Last weekend in an Under-18 game, Gabriel glided into the penalty area, deceived a Manchester City defender with a shimmy and found the corner. The clip has amassed thousands of views on social media.
Word of Gabriel’s talent has already swept around the world. Europe’s top clubs have closely followed his development, and the teenager was close to leaving United in the summer.
Talks were advanced with a European giant and an eleventh-hour meeting was held at Carrington in an attempt to keep Gabriel. It’s understood Jason Wilcox (director of football) and Omar Berrada (CEO) were present, which shows the high regard in which Gabriel is held.
United reiterated that Gabriel could become the face of the club and it was eventually agreed the teenage sensation would remain in Manchester – the player’s final decision was decisive.
Gabriel has been talismanic for the U18s – and he’s just 14 years old.
There are windows for rivals to poach academy players at 14 and 16. Gabriel has committed his future at United for another two years at least, but interest from Europe’s biggest sides will only intensify as he gets older, especially as he holds a European passport through his parents.
United know they have a special talent on their hands and recently introduced Gabriel to Ruben Amorim. During their exchange, Amorim spent time discussing his philosophy and stressed the importance of working hard, even recalling an anecdote about Cristiano Ronaldo as an example.
Amorim played alongside Ronaldo for Portugal’s national team. The United boss recounted stories about Ronaldo’s work ethic – he was the first to report for training and the last to leave.
Gabriel does not lack a work ethic. He is already living like a dedicated professional athlete with his diet and recovery sessions, and wakes up at 6am most days to make his dream a reality.
In the summer, he trained at a Nike camp in Marbella with Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali and former Liverpool striker Danny Ings. When Marcus Rashford joined Aston Villa on loan in January, Gabriel thanked him for taking penalties with him at Carrington before he left.
He also received a “get well soon” video from Andre Onana when he was recovering from his shoulder injury last year. Experienced players are shocked when they learn his age.
Gabriel has been offered a box at the new Old Trafford, which is planned to be completed by 2030, and was invited to watch the Premier League opener against Arsenal in the directors’ box.
It speaks volumes that brands are already desperate to work with Gabriel, who was subject to interest from Adidas before Nike beat off competition from the German company.
Adidas were in pole position to sign Gabriel before a late effort from Nike to better their offer – how many 14-year-olds could spark a bidding war between sportswear’s commercial giants?
Gabriel with Newcastle midfielder Tonali.(Image: @jjnr10 via Instagram)
United want to temper expectations to help Gabriel focus on football. Former academy director Nick Cox was asked a question about Gabriel during an interview earlier this year and politely steered the conversation in another direction. Those questions will become common for his successor.
Those who know Gabriel are not concerned about keeping him grounded. He has strong family support and a circle of friends, and those closest to him don’t let him get ahead of himself. He is just JJ to them.
Gabriel possesses the right mentality to enjoy a successful career. It takes him just minutes to forget about the football after leaving the pitch following an academy game at Carrington.
That is a trait that many top professionals share – the ability to separate what happens on the pitch from their home lives – but Gabriel loves playing football and entertaining with the ball.
Darren Fletcher was appointed as U18 manager in the summer, and a source praised Fletcher’s handling of Gabriel this season because he wants him on the ball as much as possible.
Gabriel has been played down the middle and from the left this term, although it doesn’t matter which position he plays because the end result is the same: he tears through the opposition and scores.
MUTV subscriptions might begin to sell like hot cakes, just so fans can watch Gabriel play.
The teenager’s ball control is exceptional, and his finishing power is remarkable for a player of his age. Gabriel has seven goals in six Under-18 appearances and scored for the Under-17s on Wednesday.
He was even given the nickname ‘Kid Messi’ after clips of him training and completing skills went viral on social media when he was younger, and Lionel Messi would probably approve of his footwork.
Gabriel scoring against Derby U18s in August.
Fans have already started to speculate when Gabriel could make his senior debut, and it already feels likely that he will become United’s youngest-ever Premier League player.
Angel Gomes (16 years, 263 days), Shola Shoretire (17 years, 19 days) and Chido Obi (17 years, 79 days) are the youngest to make a debut for United in the Premier League.
Gabriel has the potential to break that record, and he could even topple the Premier League record of Ethan Nwaneri (15 years, 181 days). Max Dowman (15 years, 235 days) is the second youngest.
Mikel Arteta has shown faith in Nwaneri and Dowman at Arsenal, while talented Liverpool youngster Rio Ngumoha recently scored on his senior debut aged 16 years and 361 days.
Dowman and Ngumoha have blown away spectators this season, offering an exciting glimpse into the future of English football, but many believe Gabriel could be the pick of the bunch.
There is a reason why Wilcox and Berrada were involved in the meeting to keep Gabriel in the summer, and why the youngster has been offered a box at the new Old Trafford.
He is a generational prospect – and the best is yet to come from the supremely talented teenager.