Manchester United are confident of keeping rising star JJ Gabriel at the club amid his recent involvement in first-team training, Fabrizio Romano has revealed in his exclusive GIVEMESPORT newsletter.
The 15-year-old starlet trained with United’s senior squad for the first time on Thursday, following his impressive displays for the club’s Under-18s squad, where he has scored seven goals in the opening six matches this season.
Romano says United see Gabriel as an important part of the club’s future and wanted to reflect their ‘full trust’ in the teenager by inviting him to train with the first-team squad this week.
Gabriel himself posted an image on his own social media feed following his training debut with the senior squad and is believed to have taken part in a full 11 v 11 practice game.
Fabrizio Romano Shares JJ Gabriel Update
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Romano, writing in his exclusive GIVEMESPORT newsletter, revealed that Man United are confident of keeping Gabriel at the club following his recent involvement in first-team training:
“Yes, they are. They see Gabriel as an important part of their future project and bringing him in to train with the first-team squad shows he has their full trust and he has big prospects.”
Gabriel committed his future to United this summer, with technical director Jason Wilcox playing a prominent role in persuading the forward to stay.
The 15-year-old was then invited into the Old Trafford directors’ box for United’s game against Arsenal on the opening Premier League weekend, in a further sign of his growing importance to the club.
This term, Gabriel has been a regular in United’s Under-18s side, coached by former Red Devils midfielder Darren Fletcher, registering seven goals and one assist in six appearances.
He netted his first hat-trick in the 4-0 win over Derby Under-18s in August, four months after becoming the youngest United player to feature for their Under-18s side in April.
Reports in Spain have recently linked La Liga giants Real Madrid with a potential swoop for the 15-year-old forward, claiming Los Blancos are closely monitoring the teenager, who was once likened to former Barcelona star Neymar.
The 2010-born forward spent time in the academies of Chelsea, Arsenal and West Ham before joining United’s youth ranks in 2021.