{"id":2630,"date":"2026-03-06T21:13:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T21:13:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=2630"},"modified":"2026-03-06T21:13:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T21:13:10","slug":"man-utd-told-crazy-talented-wonderkid-can-play-for-them-next-season-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?p=2630","title":{"rendered":"Man Utd told &#8216;crazy talented&#8217; wonderkid can play for them next season | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2202992487.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-27260359\" alt=\"Real Sociedad de Futbol v Manchester United - UEFA Europa League 2024\/25 Round of 16 First Leg\" decoding=\"sync\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>United have another remarkable young talent on their hands (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Wes Brown believes there is a good chance Manchester United sensation JJ Gabriel is involved in the first-team next season.<\/p>\n<p>Gabriel only turned 15 in October but has made a huge impression at Under-18 level this season and is regarded as one of the most exciting prospects in world football.<\/p>\n<p>The teenager has scored 18 times in 21 appearances across the Under-18 Premier League and FA Youth Cup this term, frequently training with the first-team with growing expectation he will be ready for what would be a record-breaking debut sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n<p>Max Dowman made his competitive debut for Arsenal aged 15 in August with Gabriel eligible to play in the Premier League from next season.<\/p>\n<p>United have already had to fight tooth and nail to keep the versatile forward in Manchester with Barcelona among the host of clubs across Europe eager to lure him away.<\/p>\n<p>Brown, an academy graduate himself who went onto win five Premier League titles, two FA Cups and two Champions Leagues with United, is among those who have watched Gabriel\u2019s rise with increasing excitement.<\/p>\n<p>The former defender has no doubts over Gabriel\u2019s talent, suggesting the only dilemma facing United is at what point in the season they choose to bring him in next term.<\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tYour football fix\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<p><strong>Metro<\/strong>&#8216;s Head of Sport James Goldman delivers punchy analysis, transfer talk and his take on the week&#8217;s biggest stories direct to your inbox every week.<\/p>\n<p>Sign up here, it&#8217;s an open goal.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"431\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/GettyImages-2232832552.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-26153123\" alt=\"Derby County U18 v Manchester United U18: U18 Premier League\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Gabriel has made remarkable progress with the Under-18s (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Pointing to the impact Lamine Yamal had at Barcelona after making his debut just shy of his 16<sup>th<\/sup> birthday, Brown believes it will happen sooner rather than later for Gabriel.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018The talent is there. Crazy talent,\u2019 Brown told <strong>Metro<\/strong>\u00a0via\u00a0BetMGM.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018It is about timing with JJ Gabriel. For United, it is about getting him in in at the right time where he can do well where he will be appreciated.<\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tJust how good is JJ Gabriel?\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<p>Gabriel is considered to be the most exceptional young talent to progress through United\u2019s youth ranks in recent years and across the game at youth level, is regarded as the best player in the country born in 2010.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to those Neymar comparisons, his ability to effortlessly take the ball on the turn has seen him likened to Phil Foden, who progressed through the youth academy over the way at Manchester City.<\/p>\n<p>Football is littered with stories of unique talents failing to make the step up to men\u2019s football. Angel Gomes, who currently holds the record of United\u2019s youngest player in history, has carved out a fine career for himself in France having also been recognised at international level, but made just 10 more appearances for United after his debut. United\u2019s next youngest debutant Shola Shoretire is currently playing for Dutch club Zwolle, on loan from Greek outfit PAOK.<\/p>\n<p>The situation with Gabriel feels different though and United\u2019s biggest problem will appear to be keeping holding of him. Barcelona\u2019s interest is well-documented and the teenager holds an Irish passport through his dad, former Republic of Ireland intranational Joe O\u2019Cearuill, meaning any move abroad would be free of any Brexit red tape. <\/p>\n<p>United will be counting the days until he is eligible to sign his first professional contract at 17.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Tony Mogan, live sports editor<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u2018The best example is with what Barcelona have done with Lamine Yamal. The talent was there, we know that now.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018If you bring him in too early and it doesn\u2019t work out the door can shut a little bit. Everyone knows how talented you are but the opportunities can become less.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018What I will say, watching Gabriel is, he is fearless, he is always trying to make something happen. The way he glides past players is unbelievable.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Next season he will definitely be in the conversation but it will be about timing. Not to put him under pressure and telling him \u201cwe need you\u201d because you don\u2019t need that at that sort of age.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018He just needs to enjoy his football and when his opportunities comes, enjoy it. But it will happen for him.\u2019<\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: Ray Parlour names Arsenal star who will leave as Gunners consider selling four players<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: Stan Collymore claims \u00a340m Chelsea star is \u2018the best I have seen this season\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: Alan Shearer hits back at Fabian Hurzeler over Arsenal criticism<\/span><\/p>\n<section id=\"share-buttons-bottom\" class=\"share-buttons share-buttons-bottom\">\n\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Comment now<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-comment\" href=\"#social-comment\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-comments__label\">Comments<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-preferred-source\" href=\"#social-preferred-source\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-preferred-source__label\">Add as preferred source<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/section>\n<div class=\"newsletter-end-card accent--sport\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-end-card__inner\">\n<h4>Football Newsletter \u2013 In The Mixer<\/h4>\n<p>Punchy analysis, transfer talk and more from Metro&#8217;s football experts, sent straight to your inbox every week.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> Man Utd told &#8216;crazy talented&#8217; wonderkid can play for them next season | Football<br \/>\n<br \/>#Man #Utd #told #crazy #talented #wonderkid #play #season #Football<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>United have another remarkable young talent on their hands (Picture: Getty) Wes Brown believes there&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2631,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[2299,317,230,600,1775,2334,447,471,2335],"class_list":["post-2630","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-crazy","tag-football","tag-man","tag-play","tag-season","tag-talented","tag-told","tag-utd","tag-wonderkid"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/news678.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2202992487_1772812870.jpg",1200,630,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/news678.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2202992487_1772812870-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/news678.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2202992487_1772812870-300x158.jpg",300,158,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/news678.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2202992487_1772812870-768x403.jpg",640,336,true],"large":["https:\/\/news678.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2202992487_1772812870-1024x538.jpg",640,336,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/news678.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2202992487_1772812870.jpg",1200,630,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/news678.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2202992487_1772812870.jpg",1200,630,false],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/news678.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2202992487_1772812870-1024x538.jpg",1024,538,true],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/news678.top\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/GettyImages-2202992487_1772812870-540x340.jpg",540,340,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/news678.top\/?author=1"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/news678.top\/?cat=6\" rel=\"category\">Sports<\/a>","tag_info":"Sports","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news678.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2630","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news678.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news678.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news678.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news678.top\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2630"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/news678.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2630\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news678.top\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2631"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news678.top\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2630"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news678.top\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2630"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news678.top\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2630"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}