Manchester United are convinced they may have the next Cristiano Ronaldo on their hands after promoting 14-year-old prodigy JJ Gabriel to their Under-18 squad.
The young winger’s reputation is growing at an astonishing rate, attracting attention from elite clubs and global brands alike, including Nike.
Gabriel, whose full name is Joseph Junior Andreou Gabriel, has been making waves with his performances this season — netting 15 goals and six assists in just 13 games, all in age groups far beyond his own.
Raised in London, his talent first caught the public eye when a viral YouTube video dubbed him ‘Kid Messi’.
This title fuelled the excitement around him and his potential. However, scouts reportedly see more similarities with Ronaldo, especially after the teen penned a deal with Nike.
As reported by Mail Sport, Nike secured Gabriel’s signature last month with what is believed to be one of the most lucrative contracts ever handed to a player of his age.
Part of their pitch was labelling him ‘the heir to Cristiano Ronaldo’s throne’.
Having initially signed with the sportswear giant as an Under-10, he turned down United’s kit supplier, Adidas, in favour of their biggest rival.
Mail Sport also reported that Nike were among a ‘queue of brands’ keen to work with the young starlet, with the teen amassing 111k followers in recent months.
The teenager was also reportedly positioned as the future face of Nike’s Mercurial brand, an opportunity that helped sway his decision to stay with them.
United’s academy director, Nick Cox, has reportedly been inundated with glowing coach reports about Gabriel’s rapid development.
However, with success comes risk as many top Premier League clubs are said to be circling Gabriel, eager to take advantage of one of the key windows at ages 14 and 16 when young talents can be lured away.
Gabriel’s Irish passport also makes him eligible to move to other European clubs at 16, putting him firmly on the radar of footballing powerhouses across the continent.
Determined to keep hold of their rising star, United have put significant efforts into securing his future at Old Trafford.
The club has reportedly offered him boxes with premium seats for first-team matches, while also ensuring he gains valuable experiences with the senior academy squads.
He was included in the Under-16s’ tour of Hong Kong, where he played in front of 6,000 fans and was crowned Player of the Tournament.
At just 13, Gabriel was invited to warm up with the Under-18s ahead of their Premier League Cup final win over Manchester City, a privilege he experienced again last week before United’s FA Youth Cup quarter-final triumph at Arsenal.
Now, at 14, he is set to make his official debut for Adam Lawrence’s Under-18s—another significant milestone in what is shaping up to be a remarkable career.
He already has 108,000 followers on Instagram and that continues to climb.
This is unlikely to be the last time Gabriel’s name makes headlines.
