JJ Gabriel, Geovany Quenda, Brian Madjo and the top 20 NXGN stars aiming to make their Premier League breakthrough this season
Dubbed ‘Kid Messi’, JJ Gabriel is one of the most highly-anticipated young forwards in United’s ranks.
He has been so prolific in the U18s Premier League that it is hard to believe he is still just 15 years old. With 23 goals in as many games, it was no surprise he won the U18 Premier League Player of the Season.
His rapid progress prompted United to fast-track his path to the senior side, integrating him into first-team training sessions under Ruben Amorim over a year ago. He then made his unofficial senior debut in a pre-season friendly against Atletico Madrid earlier this month, becoming the youngest player ever to feature for the United first team.
European heavyweights like Barcelona have already attempted to turn his head, but United have worked hard to map out a clear Old Trafford pathway for the teenager, who previously had spells in the Arsenal and Chelsea academies.
Turning 16 in October, he is already eligible to play in the Premier League this season. While Carrick will be careful to protect the precocious youngster, many are expecting Gabriel to make history as the club’s youngest-ever Premier League debutant sooner rather than later.
“We want him to go up there and thrive,” U18s boss Darren Fletcher told The Athletic in May. “We need to get him in the position to do that, and even if he doesn’t, that’s not the end of the world. We always need to be careful. They need to experience that, but it’s making sure it’s at the right time, and understanding why and what the needs are.
“Once you get thrown in there, you’re judged very, very quickly, rightly or wrongly. It’s important that we do right by his development. JJ’s more than capable to go in, as are a lot of our young players.”
