JJ Gabriel has burst onto the scene at Manchester United, bagging a hat-trick in less than 30 minutes in an under-18s game – and he’s still just 14 years old
A 14-year-old goalscoring sensation by the name of JJ Gabriel has burst onto the scene at Manchester United, and fans are calling for the ‘star boy’ to be slotted into the first team as soon as possible. The young Red Devil stunned fans with his performance in the under-18s Premier League game on Saturday, where United triumphed 4-0 over Derby County.
The teenager scored a 22-minute hat-trick, scoring in the fifth, 14th and 27th minutes to secure three goals before the half-hour mark of the game. Amir Ibragimov, 17, grabbed the other goal via a penalty in the 66th minute, but all anybody could talk about was the young Gabriel.
Fans took to social media to hail the young forward’s performance at the weekend, with one claiming he will become United’s new star boy after Alejandro Garnacho’s departure for Chelsea. They said: « Chelsea took our egotistic Garnacho away, but La Carrington is cooking another starboy, his name is JJ Gabriel, bagged a hat-trick today. He’s just 14! »
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Another said: « How did I forget my star boy JJ Gabriel? Invest your stocks now! » while a third added: « JJ Gabriel has a hat-trick in 27 minutes for Manchester United Under 18’s against Derby. He is 14 years old. Protect him at all costs. »
With more calls for the Old Trafford hierarchy to « protect » the young player at the club, it seems that these protests have been heard by the top brass. Gabriel committed his future to United this summer, as per Sports Illustrated, and is set to stay at Old Trafford until he is 16 years old – when he can sign a professional deal with the club.
As reported earlier this month, the youngster, dubbed ‘Kid Messi’, will be permitted to train with Ruben Amorim’s first-team squad at points throughout the season to bed him into the top level of football and has already been called up.
Technical director Jason Wilcox is understood to have taken an active role in convincing the teenager to stay at United after he met with boss Amorim at the training ground in an effort to make him feel more part of the team.
While it isn’t a new thing for academy players to train with the first team – and sometimes graduate early to be a crucial part of the starting XI – the fact Gabriel is already making waves at just 14 suggests his ceiling could be incredibly high.
Gabriel will, however, not be part of United’s quest to win the FA Youth Cup this season as players have to be born before the cut-off date of 31 August 2010.
Gabriel, who is the son of former Republic of Ireland international, Joe O’Cearuill, has scored five goals in three appearances for the under-18s team so far this season, including the hat-trick against Derby and goals against Middlesbrough and Everton.
Last season, the youngster scored three goals in three appearances, catching the eye of many with his flair, skill and striking ability at such a young age.
Some United fans have even likened him to Barcelona’s Lamin Yamal, as one excited supporter wrote: « JJ Gabriel is a different level of talent. Man Utd must try to keep him at all costs. Can see why Barcelona want him, could a be LW version of Yamal in future. »
Meanwhile, another added: « I really hope that we can hold onto JJ Gabriel – he looks amazing and is only 14. There is a lot of chatter that he may move on. As he’s an Irish passport holder, he could join the likes of Barcelona now. »
Due to Gabriel’s holding of an Irish passport, the 14-year-old would be allowed to make the move to a European club from the age of 16 rather than 18 years old – tempting the likes of Barcelona, Real Madrid and even Bayern Munich, according to Goal.com.
But with his United deal signed and his prowess showing in a league far above his age, Gabriel may just be the wonderkid the Old Trafford faithful could be seeing a lot more of in the years to come.
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