Manchester United’s wonder-teen JJ Gabriel netted a scarcely believable strike for the Red Devils’ under-18s side on Saturday, as he continues to make a strong case for a step up to Michael Carrick’s senior cohort.
Carrick was in the stands for Gabriel’s command performance in the FA Youth Cup against Oxford United last week, and the talented 15-year-old has already trained with the senior team on occasion.
But in action for the youth team on Saturday afternoon, Gabriel demonstrated the sort of finish that has made him the Manchester club’s most-buzzed-about academy star.
Gabriel’s team-mate Daniel Armer fed the ball to him on the edge of the area, with the teen then dribbling in circles under pressure from the opposition.
Cutting to the goal line, Gabriel then let fly a sharply angled stunner with his left foot, which outsmarted the Wolves goalkeeper and pinged into the back of the net off the underside of the crossbar.
Gabriel then wheeled away in celebration at his opener, before later adding to his goal tally with a penalty scored from the spot in the second-half to make it 3-1 for the hosts.
JJ Gabriel (number 10) let fly an immaculate effort to put his Man United under-18s side ahead
The 15-year-old is the most-buzzed-about teenager in the club’s legendary academy set-up
Carrick was again in the stands to watch Gabriel’s heroics, but Man United hierarchy are thought to be set on ensuring that he develops at the right rate and without adverse pressure.
In January, Man United’s caretaker manager Darren Fletcher agreed that the hype around the player, who joined the academy at Carrington in 2022, was ‘deserved’.
‘JJ is a fantastic talent,’ Fletcher said. ‘I’ve enjoyed working with him immensely, getting to know him.
‘He’s a young lad with a massive sort of hype, you know there’s a lot of noise around him and deservedly so because he’s a real talented kid.
‘He works hard. First thing I’d say is he loves football. He loves training, he loves playing, he loves having the ball, he loves expressing himself. He makes fantastic decisions.
‘He’s got an enthusiasm for the game that’s just amazing. 15-year-old, a bright future ahead of him,’ Fletcher added, before stressing the importance of not over-promoting him too young.
‘I’m super excited by his talent, but the most important thing is that he keeps developing, and he’s in the U18s team, and he’s doing fantastically well, but he’s still got lots to learn.
‘He’s developing within there. But the world’s his oyster and he just needs to go on his journey and his time will come in due course. But for just now, it’s a little bit early (to put him in the first team) I think and I think a lot of people would agree with me.
After scoring the opener against Wolves’ youth side, Gabriel showed off his usual celebration
The Enfield-born starlet previously had spells at Chelsea, Arsenal, and West Ham before joining Man United in 2022
‘But I couldn’t speak highly enough of JJ. He’s got an amazing family and amazing support around him and he’s somebody we’re delighted to have at the club.’
Gabriel, full name Joseph Junior Andreou Gabriel, was born in London and had spells at Chelsea, Arsenal and West Ham.
His family moved to Manchester when he was nine and two years later, aged 11, Gabriel signed for the club alongside Cristiano Ronaldo Junior and the two became close friends.
Gabriel’s brace on Saturday brings his season total to 16.
