Manchester United’s academy has a potential world-beater in the ranks right now who is already looking dominant in U18 football despite being just 14.
For each and every academy player, Thursday night was another prime example of what they are all aiming for, to represent Manchester United in the semi-final of a major European competition.
It was the kind of night when legends are built, and Bruno Fernandes furthered his claim of being considered a United legend with his brace at San Mames in Bilbao, Spain.
24 hours later, and it was the U18s who were in action. The defence of the U18 Premier League is done, and the youngsters are playing purely for fun, but the games between now and the end of the season are prime opportunities for younger talents to make their mark.
United won 4-0 on the night at Carrington with Victor Musa scoring twice in the game to bring his tally for the U18s to 14 through the 2024/25 season, reminding those in charge not to forget about him.
However, Adam Lawrence seems to have a never-ending conveyor belt of talent within the United academy, but now the most exciting of all is making his mark for the U18s.
READ: Man Utd under-18s top scorers and assists in 2024/25, all results
Photo by Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images
JJ Gabriel scores again for Manchester United U18
Fresh off finishing joint top scorer in the MIC U16 tournament over in Spain, Gabriel was back in a United shirt on Friday for his second substitute appearance for the U18s.
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Gabriel got 18 minutes to impress and he did just that scoring the fourth goal for United with an excellent individual dribble toward the Stoke box, before he placed it into the far post leaving the keeper no chance.
It was another impressive cameo by the 14-year-old as his step into the U18 side has been seamless as he now boasts three goals in just two short cameo displays.
On his U18 debut, Gabriel scored two goals off the bench for United to immediately show fans are right to be very excited by him and that the comparisons with talents like Lionel Messi and Neymar are correct due to his superb technical ability.
The club rate Gabriel very highly, with Marcus Rashford already a big fan of the teenager, and given how fast he has made himself look above U18 football, comparisons to Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal are inevitable.
JJ Gabriel could end up having breakthrough similar to Lamine Yamal at Manchester United
Despite limited minutes, it is already clear that Gabriel has the talent to go a long way in football, with the rest all about his work and attitude as to whether he will be talked about alongside Yamal for years to come.
The similarities stop right now at stylistically, and also being miles ahead of where he should be at his age; the rest he still has to prove. But as of right now, Gabriel looks likely to have a stratospheric rise at United, with U18 already looking like a cake walk for the 14-year-old.
With this in mind, we would not be shocked to see U21 inclusion early next season, and maybe even a call-up into Ruben Amorim’s training squad this summer in order for the coaching staff to get a good look at him.
If he can sustain and improve these performances while also remaining at United, Gabriel stands a strong chance at becoming the club’s youngest ever player, considering he doesn’t turn 15 until October.
There has been talk of Gabriel heading elsewhere, but United is the right club for him. Amorim is committed to the youth and right now there is none better than Gabriel – we fully expect to see his name up in lights as soon as Premier League regulations allow it.
Can he follow in Yamal’s superstar footsteps? Only time will tell.