Image Credits: Academy Scoop
Manchester United’s youth academy is once more attracting attention with one of their hottest prospects getting his Under-18s debut, JJ Gabriel.
The 14-year-old is the youngest person ever to play for the Under-18s side, showing off the potential he holds, with the youngster still a few years off being able to sign a professional contract.
But who is the talented striker already labelled “Kid Messi” and why all the hype?
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JJ Gabriel earns the “Kid Messi” title
Despite being only 14 years old, with his birthday in October, Gabriel is already making the world sit up and take note.
His impressive footwork and attacking flair have already drawn comparisons with eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi, with a composure in front of goal beyond his years.
Just after his 14th birthday, Gabriel was promoted to the Under-18s, not having to wait long for his debut for the side.
Now, only six months on, Gabriel came off the bench, scoring a truly impressive brace, showing off the reason why he is compared to one of the greats of the game.
For his second goal of the game, the 14-year-old coolly brought down a lofted ball with a perfectly controlled first touch from a lofted pass, a calm roll past his marker, and a powerful finish into the far corner.
However, this wasn’t the first impressive glimpse we got of the youngster.
Back in March 2025, the United youth team took to the Floodlit Cup with Gabriel showing his resilience against Blackburn Rovers.
Despite suffering a dislocated shoulder after a heavy collision, the teenager continued playing, popped it back in, and went on to deliver an incredible performance, scoring a hat-trick and providing an assist in United’s 4–0 win.
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Europe’s elite show interest in the generational talent
As expected with such a talent, Europe’s elite are eagerly watching JJ Gabriel. Top clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich are all showing strong interest in the talented teenager.
With academy transfers permitted from the age of 14, United are now on edge of losing their star, with a move perfectly possible given the right incentive.
In August 2024, Gabriel visited Barcelona and was given an exclusive experience, being given a tour of Camp Nou, gifted match tickets, a signed shirt from Lamine Yamal, and even met the first-team squad. While some suggested it was just a warm gesture from the Catalan club, others feared it was a deliberate attempt to lure the youngster away from Old Trafford.
Thankfully for United, there’s been no movement since, and reports now indicate the club are working hard to retain him long-term, with Gabriel himself believed to be happy with his development in Manchester.
However, it’s not just clubs who are looking to sign the youngster, with Nike also signing him to a lucrative deal, with the sportswear giants wanting to capitalise on his impending rise to rival Messi and his own icon, Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as his social media following.
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What next for JJ Gabriel?
With youth firmly on his side, Gabriel still has a few years ahead of him in the Under-18s side, however we’re expecting to hear his name a lot from hear on out.
It also wouldn’t surprise us if “Kid Messi” gets an invite to participate in senior team training sessions when they’re short on numbers in a season’s time before breaking into the first-team in years to come.
As long as United can keep hold of the young star, he’s sure to be a key part in revitalising the squad and could be a central point of their long-lasting success.
However in the short term, the opposing Under-18s sides are sure to be having nightmares of facing him in the coming years.
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Source: Centred Devils
