JJ Gabriel is widely regarded as one of the most promising young talents to emerge from United’s academy, with highlights from his youth debut earning him the nickname “Kid Messi.”
At just 14 years old, Gabriel is expected to commit to a new contract with the club, despite strong interest from European giants such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich.
According to reports, United directors Jason Wilcox and Matt Hargreaves played a pivotal role in convincing the youngster to stay at Old Trafford.
Despite his age, Gabriel appears to be on the verge of joining first-team training sessions.
This speculation was fueled by a recent image circulating online, showing Gabriel in United’s training gear. In the photo, he is seen wearing the No. 95 shirt—an unprecedented number in the club’s history.
That number surpasses the previous highest squad number, No. 87, which was worn by 17-year-old defender Godwill Kunoki during the 2024–25 season.
Gabriel’s future is highly anticipated, especially after he signed a major endorsement deal with Nike. The brand reportedly sees him as a potential successor to Ronaldo and a future face of their Mercurial line.
The young forward, whose full name is Joseph Junior Andreou Gabriel, developed his skills through both futsal and traditional football.
His personal coach, Alfie Brooks, offered insight into his development, describing Gabriel as one of the most technically gifted players he’s ever trained.
“He was very raw but he was very competitive,” Brooks said. “When he first started training, those were the standout attributes.
“I’ve coached nearly 1,000 academy players over my time – four of them in Josh Nichols (Arsenal), Josh Acheampong (Chelsea), Sydie Peck (Sheffield United) and Tyrique George (Chelsea) have made their senior debuts – and JJ is the best I’ve ever seen.
“He could go into a Premier League changing room right now and technically he would be better than all of them. It wouldn’t even be close.”
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