Manchester United are famous for bringing players through their academy system, but JJ Gabriel is a bit different. He has already forced himself into the first-team fold at Old Trafford, and at such a tender age. The striker, London-born and raised in Enfield, spent time at Chelsea, Arsenal and West Ham’s youth set-ups before making the move to the north-west in 2022. Aged just nine, he went viral on YouTube, hailed as the ‘Kid Messi’ in 2019. Now, he has been named in Michael Carrick’s touring squad for United’s pre-season friendly against Rosenborg, which takes place today at the Lerkendal Stadion in Trondheim, Norway.
Potential Senior Debut
Should he be handed some minutes against the Norwegian side, he would be playing the first senior match of his young career. There is the possibility that that could happen, with United’s only recognised senior striker in the squad being Dutchman Joshua Zirkzee. First-choice No9 Benjamin Sesko continues to recover from a shin problem that curtailed his campaign last term, while Chido Obi is the other option to play through the middle.
Age and Background
The teenage sensation is just 15 years of age. Born on October 6 2010, he played for United’s Under-18 side aged just 14, becoming the youngest ever player to do so. Gabriel scored twice on his debut against Leeds, and in October last year, he was invited to train with the first-team squad under Ruben Amorim. He then netted in the FA Youth Cup in December against Peterborough at Old Trafford, and come the end of the campaign, he was named the Under-18s’ player of the season. He has since featured for England’s Under-15, Under-16 and Under-17 sides, although he is eligible to represent Ireland, Cyprus and Trinidad and Tobago thanks to his paternal grandmother, his Cypriot mother and Trinidadian grandfather.
