Manchester United will be watching on with envy as Max Dowman looks set for a breakout season for Arsenal.
The entire Premier League will be watching on as 15-year-old Max Dowman looks every bit of the world-class prospect that he has long been tipped as.
Dowman was given his opportunity to shine during pre-season by Mikel Arteta, and the teenager grabbed it, running rings around Newcastle’s first team defence.
This showcased his ability is already at a first-team level and generational labels are being thrown around this summer.
Ruben Amorim will be watching this and aware that in 12 months time, he might have a similarly exciting talent to integrate into his first team.
Amorim has debuted three academy players in his short time in charge of Manchester United, and we expect several more over the course of the 2025/26 season.
But it won’t be until 2026/27 that the most exciting of all can make his breakthrough.
Ruben Amorim is watching pre-season training.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
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Manchester United can plan JJ Gabriel breakout by learning from Arsenal
While Dowman is a fantastic talent, United will be excited about the prospect of JJ Gabriel breaking through next summer.
Still only 14 years old, United are fast tracking Gabriel after he signed a pre-scholar contract with the club earlier this summer, which secures his future until his 16th birthday at the earliest.
After this, Gabriel was spotted wearing a United squad number, which suggests that he has had the opportunity to train with senior players or the club are planning to give him this chance over the coming campaign.
Despite tearing under-18 football apart already this summer with some incredible ‘FIFA’ esque goals, Gabriel won’t be eligible for his United debut this season.
Gabriel is toying with opponents after he was permanently promoted to under-18 football this summer, and we fully expect that he will soon find himself with the under-21s.
So with youth football looking like it will soon simply be too easy due to how talented Gabriel is, Amorim should already be looking to take notes on how Arteta integrates his 15-year-old talent.
United will want to show Gabriel that he is best served at Old Trafford and so we fully expect him on tour next summer if his performances this coming season earn that chance.
JJ Gabriel can save Manchester United millions over the next few years
It is always difficult to predict if a youth player will make it, nevermind to make decisions on a 14-year-old’s ability, but Gabriel already looks like one of the best talents in the country.
Gabriel scored twice on his under-18 debut, which saw a rocketship attached to fan ambitions for the teenage prodigy.
By developing and successfully retaining Gabriel, United will save millions, as he promises to be one of the best players in the world in the future.
Gabriel is the heir to Cristiano Ronaldo’s throne according to Nike, which is incredibly high praise and speaks volumes around why United are moving heaven and earth to show the player he should remain at Carrington in his career.