15-year-old JJ Gabriel has been training with the Manchester United first-team squad ahead of Saturday’s Premier League clash with Brighton.
The teenager is among the most talented of a hugely promising crop of youngsters at Old Trafford and has already showcased his significant potential in the academy.
Gabriel hade history earlier this year by appearing for United’s Under-18s side aged just 14, scoring two of their goals in a 13-1 demolition of Leeds, having already made a sizable impact at both U16 and U17 level.
His consistently impressive displays for Darren Fletcher’s U18s have now once again caught the attention of head coach Ruben Amorim, with Gabriel confirming on social media that he took part in training with United’s senior team at Carrington for the first time on Thursday.
According to BBC Sport, he featured in an 11-a-side practice match, having previously been told by Amorim that he would be invited to train with the first team on occasion this season and watched their opening Premier League fixture of the campaign against Arsenal back in August from the directors’ box at Old Trafford.
Gabriel - whom some have taken to referring to as ‘Kid Messi’ - committed his future to United earlier this summer and looks to have a massive future at the club, earning favourable comparisons to the likes of Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman, who is also 15 and already made three first-team appearances for the Gunners so far this season.
Fabrizio Romano reports that Gabriel is seen as one of the best young prospects in the Red Devils’ academy and a “key part” of the club’s long-term project.
