Wunderkind Trains With Man U A-Team
Manchester United’s Carrington training ground witnessed a glimpse of the future this week as youth sensation JJ Gabriel was promoted to first-team sessions.
Nicknamed “Kid Messi” due to his viral YouTube highlights, the 15-year-old wunderkind rubbed shoulders with senior stars under the watchful eye of Michael Carrick.
The teenager’s inclusion in two sessions this week follows a staggering run of form in the academy. Gabriel has already notched 11 goals in 16 appearances for the Under-18s this season, including a headline-grabbing hat-trick against rivals Liverpool.
In December, he became the youngest player to score in the Football Association Youth Cup at Old Trafford, netting the winner against Peterborough at just 15 years and two months old.
While the hype is immense, fans must wait for his competitive senior debut. English Premier League rules prevent Gabriel from featuring this season; however, he remains eligible to shatter David Gaskell’s 70-year-old record as United’s youngest-ever player if he debuts early in the 2026-27 campaign.
“I’m super excited by his talent, but the most important thing is that he keeps developing … he’s still got lots to learn,” club legend and U18 manager Darren Fletcher told a local sports publication on Tuesday, 3 February, regarding the player’s progress.
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