JJ Gabriel, a young talent from Manchester United known as ‘Kid Messi’, made a significant impact by scoring a goal and providing three assists in the Under-16s’ impressive 6-2 victory over Manchester City last weekend. After undergoing a minor shoulder surgery in October, which sidelined him for a while, Gabriel has made a strong comeback, showcasing his skills in the match against City. The 14-year-old earned the nickname ‘Kid Messi’ due to viral videos of his training sessions and specialized techniques from his earlier years. There is growing anticipation regarding his potential, and many believe it is only a matter of time before he participates in Under-18 matches. Gabriel recently expressed his gratitude to Marcus Rashford for practicing penalties with him at Carrington prior to Rashford’s loan move to Aston Villa for the season. He also received a ‘get well soon’ message from Andre Onana while he was recovering from a shoulder injury. Academy supporters are optimistic that Gabriel will make it to the first team at Old Trafford, but he is also attracting interest from top European clubs and even visited Barcelona in August. He was spotted with one of his idols, Lamine Yamal, outside the Nou Camp, and his European passport has made him appealing to renowned clubs abroad. Gabriel’s ball control is outstanding, and he recently scored an impressive goal for the U16s against Wolves by skillfully maneuvering around the goalkeeper to find the net. At just 13, he was invited to train with United’s U18s during their Premier League Cup final against Manchester City last season and participated in the warm-up at Leigh Sports Village. Now, he is increasingly involved in training with the U18 squad to face older opponents. Additionally, Gabriel was awarded the Most Valuable Player title at a U16 tournament in Hong Kong in August, with the award presented to him by former United player Dimitar Berbatov.
