Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick has clarified why teenage prodigy JJ Gabriel cannot feature for the first team this season. The 15-year-old, who turned 15 in October, is ineligible for matchday squads above Under-18 level due to Premier League regulations.
Premier League rules stipulate that a 15-year-old can only play if they reach that age by August 31 of the season in question. Since Gabriel was 14 when the 2025/26 campaign began, he cannot be included in first-team matchday squads.
Carrick described Gabriel as a "big talent" and a future star, but stressed the importance of patience. "He is not allowed [to be part of a first-team squad on a matchday]. He’s too young," Carrick said. "JJ’s doing really well. We’ve got some really good players in the academy and we try and get the younger players up as much as we can."
Meanwhile, summer signing Diego Leon has opened up about his difficult start at United. The 18-year-old left-back from Paraguay has yet to make his first-team debut, having been an unused substitute three times earlier in the campaign.
Leon admitted the transition has been challenging, particularly the language barrier and the intensity of English football. "At the beginning it was a bit difficult, honestly. When I first arrived I didn’t understand any English," he told Versus Sports. "The thing that surprised me the most was the intensity. The speed of play forced me to adapt quickly."
Carrick has advised Leon to stay calm and focus on improvement. "He told me to stay calm, to try to improve tactically and to attack more often, but when I attack I also have to come back with the same intensity," Leon explained. "I still have a way to go. I lack maturity, the physical aspect, the tactical and technical aspects, but I feel like I'm improving."
