- Man Utd set to include wonderkid in pre-season tour
- 15 year-old currently excelling under Darren Fletcher
- Cannot feature for senior side this season
Manchester United’s 15-year-old prospect JJ Gabriel has been the talk of the future for some time now.
The teenage starlet has scored 21 goals in 24 games for Darren Fletcher’s U18 side this season. The side currently sits second in the U18 Premier League North League Table. They are level on points with Manchester City, despite playing one game more.
JJ Gabriel was introduced into the side just this season. He has excelled at a level that should have been beyond his years at this stage.
Pre-season tour awaits
According to the Manchester Evening News, the Red Devils are expected to include Gabriel in their pre-season tour squad ahead of the 2026/27 campaign. There is no official word yet on where the tour will be, but it has been suggested that the squad will stay within Europe.
As many United players head to the World Cup, the pre-season squad will include more academy prospects than usual. As more players advance in the competition, their return to Carrington will be delayed. It poses a great chance for Gabriel to get considerable minutes.
The wonderkid has already been seen training with the first team this season under both Ruben Amorim and Michael Carrick. Therefore, the next logical step in his development would be to feature him in the tour.
The teenager is ineligible to move elsewhere on loan and has developed significantly under Fletcher’s tutelage. The former United midfielder had a brief caretaker spell in charge of United after Amorim was sacked. He later returned as U18 manager once Carrick was appointed.
Gabriel is unable to sign a professional contract until the age of 17, but he signed a long-term scholarship deal with the club. It is a move that mirrors Max Dowman’s story at Arsenal. The teenager made his Premier League debut this season.
The difference between the pair is that Gabriel was still 14 at the start of the current 2025/26 season, so is ineligible to play for the senior team. Dowman has already gone on to become the Premier League’s youngest ever goalscorer at 15 years old and 73 days. The young United forward would not be able to break that record, as he will turn 16 in October.
Warnings against social media
A few weeks ago, Chelsea and West Ham icon Joe Cole warned against the ‘viral’ aspect which could have a psychological effect on Gabriel when the spotlight hits him.
Cole was a wonderkid in his own right, but the evolution of modern-day technology has put the spotlight on young players more than ever, with their every touch and decision analysed from such a young age due to the broadcasting of reserve games on club channels.
Speaking on The Joy Of Football podcast, Cole said: “That’s the strange thing. Now, we’re used to it. Kids are used to things going viral.
“There’s a kid playing at Manchester United now who’s 15, JJ Gabriel, but that’s come off the back of the kid being on Instagram for four or five years. We’re so connected now.
“How did I cope with [the expectation]? I just worked out something that really helped me when I became a player. Once you step on the pitch, that was always my safe space.”
“I knew I had expectations. I knew that it brings people wanting to see your demise, or wanting to see you not do well; There are certain elements of that across society. I understood all of that.”
Toxicity of online abuse
Social media abuse is another factor to deal with. A report in 2021 saw Marcus Rashford become the second most abused athlete on social media after LeBron James. The current Barcelona player also came through as an academy graduate at United.
Cole continued: “But the moment I played football, it was always my safe space. That’s why I always wanted to be on the pitch.”
United have a duty of care towards Gabriel. They must ensure that they protect a player who will be under the spotlights of Old Trafford and social media.
Singular clips can define a reputation before a player has even made their professional debut. Cole’s advice serves as an anchor for Gabriel and his close entourage to treat social media as a white noise.
