Manchester United are very excited about the development of promising teenager JJ Gabriel, but are unlikely to fast-track him into Ruben Amorim’s first-team squad any time soon, GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Steve Bates has revealed.
The Old Trafford side have been pleasantly surprised by the progress of the 14-year-old 'super talent', who recently made headlines with a 22-minute hat-trick for United’s U18s against Derby County.
Gabriel’s rapid rise has given fans hope that he could be a senior player sooner rather than later, but Bates suggests the reality is not that straightforward.
With United still struggling in the Premier League, Amorim recognises the current situation is not the right environment to blood such a young player into the senior squad.
The Portuguese tactician handed debuts to several promising youngsters last season, including Chido Obi, Harry Amass and Tyler Fredricson.
Man United Excited by JJ Gabriel's Progress
ruben amorim man utd
According to Bates, there is a belief that JJ Gabriel could eventually become United’s youngest-ever Premier League player, surpassing Angel Gomes, who was 16 years and 263 days old when he made his top-flight debut in May 2017.
There is optimism that Gabriel, who turns 15 next month, will be given a first taste of senior minutes under Amorim eventually, especially after Max Dowman’s recent breakthrough at Arsenal
The 15-year-old has already featured twice in the Premier League this season, with both appearances coming off the bench, and has been named in the Gunners’ Champions League squad.
However, while Arsenal are a settled side and can afford to give an inexperienced youngster minutes early in the season, United’s current situation makes the same scenario less likely for now, even though Gabriel is rated very highly internally and is seen as an exciting prospect in his own right.
United are looking to bounce back after a disastrous 2024/25 league campaign, during which they finished 15th and missed out on European football for the first time in a decade.
The club invested heavily in attacking reinforcements over the summer, signing Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, while also bringing in Belgium goalkeeper Senne Lammens on deadline day.
Amorim’s side sit ninth in the Premier League after three games and next face city rivals Manchester City on Sunday.
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