JJ Gabriel: The Only Kid Chosen to Share the Spotlight with Cristiano Jr as Man Utd Goes Above and Beyond to Keep Him

ALAN SHEARER presented JJ Gabriel with his Premier League Under-18 Player of the Year award on Tuesday night.

Shearer shook ’s hand and they spoke for around ten seconds before the 15-year-old forward was ushered over to the compere.

JJ Gabriel, 15, is the brightest star in the Man Utd academy Credit: Getty JJ Gabriel was unveiled at Man Utd in 2021 alongside Cristiano Ronaldo Jr Credit: Instagram

For a Year 10 lad, Gabriel spoke with impressive confidence, as he did in the pre-recorded interview that was played before his presentation.

In his first live words on camera, Gabriel said: “I would like to thank God and my family for helping me so far on my football journey.

“I would also like to thank my team-mates and coaches who have helped me all season to achieve some of my goals as well.”

Gabriel’s parents and a academy delegation accompanied the teenager at the awards ceremony, held 48 hours before United’s FA Youth Cup final against rivals

In the past five years, Gabriel has joined United, been unveiled next to Ronaldo and billed as a “future icon” by at the age of 12.

The Ronaldo was Cristiano Junior. The pair posed together in the Old Trafford press conference room in February 2022, holding shirts aloft bearing their name and number. Gabriel’s had the iconic ‘10’ on the back of it.

Cristiano Junior was only in the United academy as his father was playing for the club at the time. Father and son left when forced his exit from United in November 2022 and Cristiano Junior now turns out for ’s youth team as his father plays in Saudi Arabia.

It was telling that Gabriel was deemed worthy of presence in the same ‘unveiling’ shot as the son of the game’s greatest goalscorer.

Gabriel in first-team training alongside Ayden Heaven last week Credit: Manchester United via Getty Imag

At academy level, Joseph Junior Gabriel – to give him his full name – is a perfect ten. He has plundered 26 goals in 28 appearances this season and could crown it with a Youth Cup winner’s medal this week.

Gabriel is also a shoo-in for United’s Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award – past recipients include , Paul Scholes, , Alejandro Garnacho and .

Gabriel will start for United against City in front of a meagre crowd of 7,000 at the Joie Stadium, housed at City’s training complex.

When Gabriel first played at Old Trafford in the Youth Cup this season, only 1,378 bothered to turn up for a 1-0 win against Peterborough United. He got the game’s only goal.

Gabriel was so awe-struck he almost forgot to shake hands with the officials pre-match. There were step-overs and he was predictably fouled.

Last week, Gabriel trained with the United first team when only two senior players were absent through injury.

The Wednesday session was two days before United’s U21s took on City. could have turned to the more senior Chido Obi to offset the absence of .

Obi, 18, has played for the United first team and, like Sesko, is an out-and-out striker. But it was Gabriel who got the call.

Gabriel will start against Man City in the FA Youth Cup final on Thursday Credit: Getty

It was , yet his presence was more significant than in previous opportunities.

have been circling around Gabriel and United director of football Jason Wilcox took measures to ensure Gabriel does not have his head turned. Ruben Amorim also spoke to Gabriel one-on-one.

Rubbing shoulders with the first team will help. United were initially hesitant about whether to include Gabriel in training imagery that they published but he was then plastered all over last week’s session.

Gabriel has worked under the eyes of all three coaches who have managed the United first team this season. , caretaker for two games in January, is the United U18 coach.

“I’m very delighted to work with him,” Gabriel said of Fletcher.

“He’s an amazing coach, he’s helped me so much this season to become a better player and to become the best version of myself.”

Fletcher was planning to rest Gabriel for United’s final two league games but Gabriel pestered him so he could play as City’s Teddie Lamb had overtaken him in the race for the U18 golden boot.

Fletcher relented and Gabriel scored against Stoke City, but finished two shy of Lamb’s total. City staff were pleased on Lamb’s behalf.

David Gaskell, who was aged 16 and 19 days in 1956, remains United’s youngest-ever player Credit: Getty United coach Jonathan Woodgate watches Gabriel train Credit: Manchester United via Getty Imag

That reminded Fletcher of the 2010 League Cup final, when he pointed out to Sir Alex Ferguson he had not played in United’s 2006 and 2009 wins. Fletcher lined up against Aston Villa for United’s 2-1 victory.

When , he joked it was later than he had anticipated.

Fletcher, Carrick and Amorim have all been asked about Gabriel at press conferences even though he is . Players must turn 15 by August 31 and Gabriel’s birthday is October 6.

Carrick stressed it would have been “too soon” if Gabriel was eligible. , who turned 16 in December, debuted for in their second game of the season.

Goalkeeper David Gaskell remains United’s youngest ever debutant at 16 years and 19 days, having been whisked from the crowd to replace an injured Ray Wood in the 1956 Charity Shield.

Gabriel is likely to be included in United’s pre-season tour squad amid a shortage of senior professionals due to the World Cup. May 18 against Wrexham in Helsinki or May 24 against Rosenborg in Trondheim can be circled in the calendar as possible debut days.

The third round of the League Cup next season will fall before Gabriel turns 16. The fourth round is scheduled to be played 21 days later after his birthday, which would be too late to break Gaskell’s 70-year record.

Gabriel’s father, Joe O’Cearuill, was a former professional and briefly on Arsenal’s books. O’Cearuill’s family hail from Cork and he was capped twice by Ireland, but there is little chance of his son pulling on the emerald green.

JJ Gabriel’s father Joe O’Cearuill (right) won two caps for Ireland Credit: Sportsfile Gabriel has won the U18 Premier League Player of the Season award Credit: Getty

Gabriel is already an England U17 international, which should spare the nations from any Jack Grealish or Declan Rice-style fall-out.

Gabriel’s chat to mark his Premier League award was his first media work with United.

In the Nineties, United hired Eamonn O’Neal from Granada TV to train Giggs, , and Gary Neville with mock interviews.

United’s in-house staff prepped Gabriel and sources say it went well. Those who have dealt with Gabriel say he’s a “good kid, very sensible and driven”.

Gabriel has made time for supporters, signing autographs and posing for pictures after Youth Cup games. Carrick, Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire are renowned for similar generosity.

“Everyone looks out for each other, we all work hard together and we’ve had a very good season,” Gabriel added.

“You’ve got to maintain working out on the training pitch every single day, giving it my all, working hard in the gym, staying fit so as not to get injured.

Unlike , Gabriel is certain to play for United.