Ryan Giggs believes Manchester United youngster JJ Gabriel could be a “generational talent” and has urged the club to keep him close to the first team.
JJ Gabriel has emerged as one of the most exciting young players in United’s academy, and Giggs feels the teenager is in the right environment to continue his development.
Speaking to Rio Ferdinand, Giggs said: “In my view, JJ is sort of a generational talent.”
The former United winger also rejected the idea of sending JJ Gabriel out on loan at this stage of his career.
Ryan Giggs wants JJ Gabriel to stay at Man Utd
Ryan Giggs believes JJ Gabriel can learn more by remaining around the first-team setup than by spending a season elsewhere.
“There’s no point in going out on loan because he’s at the best place and he’d be dipping in and out of the first team,” Giggs said.
For the United legend, that exposure is about much more than simply getting minutes on the pitch.
JJ Gabriel would benefit from training alongside senior players, travelling with the squad and experiencing the pressure that comes with representing Manchester United. Giggs believes those experiences can play a major role in preparing a young player for life at the top level.
He also pointed to the huge attention surrounding United, something academy players eventually have to learn to handle.
“You need to get used to that,” Giggs added.
That could be particularly valuable for Gabriel as he continues his progression. Rather than rushing him into regular first-team football or sending him elsewhere, keeping him around Carrick’s squad could allow United to manage his development while gradually introducing him to senior football.
With Giggs now making such a huge claim about the youngster, expectations around Gabriel are only likely to grow.
