Manchester United have been desperate to keep hold of JJ Gabriel for the future, despite interest growing across the continent.
Right now, within the academy ranks at Carrington, there is no player being billed as highly as JJ Gabriel, and for good reason.
There is a lot of excitement over Gabriel’s talent at Manchester United, and at just 15 years old, he has put together a brilliant campaign as the talisman for Darren Fletcher’s U18 team.
Gabriel has 12 goals and two assists this season in what is a very young and developing side, not in a race for the title.
Such a generational talent as Gabriel was always going to attract other top clubs to try and poach him, but United should have confidence in his future.
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JJ Gabriel’s dad sends a message that reflects well on Manchester United
The hype around Gabriel is justified, as anyone who has watched him in action can attest.
However, this has meant Barcelona showing interest in signing Gabriel, which, for a long time, felt inevitable, but things have changed.
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Often, JJ Gabriel’s father’s influence seemed set to push the teenager toward leaving United with Arsenal, Barcelona, and others all considered options.
But now Joe O’Cearuill has shared a message on X that reflects really well on United and should inspire confidence that Gabriel’s future lies at the club.
“I remember in London when JJ was 8years old, they used to say he [was] just a YouTuber and will never make it, just a showboat, he will be done at 11 years old”, O’Cearuill posted along with a clip showcasing Gabriel dribbling through several teammates in a training game.
“So glad we moved to Manchester, the club showed him love and let him grow into himself, not a [robot].”
This, coming directly after United played with bravery and attacking intent at the Emirates against a boring and robotic Arsenal side, seems to speak volumes.
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JJ Gabriel’s future should be at Old Trafford
United were heading in a direction that seemed guaranteed to lose Gabriel earlier this season under Ruben Amorim, with academy parents and players growing disillusioned under him.
However, since Michael Carrick arrived, things have changed.
Gabriel’s dad is a lot more positive about United, which in turn has us thinking he will be at Old Trafford for years to come.
We expect that if Gabriel commits to United, he will get first-team opportunities next season. And while he may leave in a few years, it would be for massive money opposed to the pennies if he signed a professional contract elsewhere instead.
Of course, nothing is guaranteed in football, but on talent with a ball alone, Gabriel could be a world-class player; hopefully, he manages to put all the other pieces together as well.
With it looking more likely to be at United.
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