'Kid Messi' fast-tracked by Manchester United to train with players four years older than him
Manchester United's first team has seen some struggles in recent years but the club's academy continues to produce top tier talent with one teenager exciting coaches at Carrington
A Manchester United youngster, nicknamed 'Kid Messi', has been promoted to train with the club's under-18 side.
JJ Gabriel has only just turned 14 and is already being included to train alongside players who are four years his senior. Gabriel has already plied his trade with his elders and has regularly been with the club's under-16s.
The Nike athlete was invited to warm up alongside the under-18s ahead of the Red Devils' Premier League Cup final against Manchester City last term. It appears the club now believe he is ready for his next stage of development.
Reports suggest the club are in little rush to offer Gabriel playing time at the next level, but have seen the need to promote him after being 'blown away'. The teenager has already won the Most Valuable Player award at an under-16s tournament in Hong Kong as he scored two goals and provided an assist in two matches.
Gabriel will likely train alongside United's new addition in Chido Obi-Martin. After a delayed confirmation of the tranfer, the 16-year-old's move was confirmed after he decided to leave Arsenal at the end of last season when he turned down an offer from the Gunners.
Negotiations over compensation needed to be agreed between United and Arsenal and the Premier League needed to ratify the transfer. The 13-times Premier League champions beat off competition from the likes of Newcastle, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund for Obi-Martin's signature.
The Demark youth international rose to prominence when he scored 10 goals in Arsenal's 14-3 win over Liverpool at under-16 level last November. United's newest signing produced a phenomenal streak to strike a whopping 28 times in just 10 games for the Gunners' U18s between March and May.
"Very happy to sign with this amazing club, time to focus and achieve all my dreams," the former Arsenal starlet posted on social media alongside images of him signing his contract and him as a child wearing a United shirt. "Thanks to everyone who has helped me get this far."
United's under-18 side have already enjoyed an impressive start to the season. In the Premier League North, the club have enjoyed five wins from five and conceded just one goal. James Scanlon netted four goals in a 9-0 win over Blackburn in their last league outing, but United tasted Premier League Cup defeat against Tottenham last time out as they almost completed a dramatic comeback with three late goals but fell 4-3.
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