Highly rated 15-year-old prospect JJ Gabriel was invited to join in with Manchester United’s first-team training this week, it has been revealed.
Dubbed ‘Kid Messi’, the young forward, who only recently celebrated his 15th birthday, is widely hailed as one of the most exciting talents in world football. United recently fought off competition from a number of rivals to keep Gabriel and remain in negotiations over a longer-term contract.
Part of United’s plan for Gabriel, who has seven goals in just six appearances for United’s Under-18s this season, is to expose him to Ruben Amorim’s senior side, and that began on Thursday when he featured in a 11 vs. 11 friendly in first-team training.
Reports have claimed Amorim has taken a liking to Gabriel, regularly reviewing the youngster’s academy performances as part of United’s ongoing attempts to prove to the teenager that he should remain at Old Trafford.
Those efforts of persuasion saw Gabriel invited to the director’s box to watch the game against Arsenal earlier this season.
