Ruben Amorim makes a historic decision involving one of Manchester United's top prodigies

Ruben Amorim drew notice by calling up 15-year-old wonderkid JJ Gabriel to join Manchester United’s senior squad training, just before the tough encounter with Brighton at Old Trafford.

Ahead of the Premier League's ninth round clash with Brighton, coach Ruben Amorim surprised many by promoting young talent JJ Gabriel to train with Manchester United’s first team for the first time. This move highlights the Portuguese manager’s genuine focus on nurturing young players and reinforces his confidence in the future of the Carrington academy.

Following an impressive 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield, Amorim and his squad are aiming for a third consecutive win back at Old Trafford. During Thursday’s training session, the 39-year-old manager organized an 11 vs 11 internal match to keep the reserve players sharp. The biggest surprise was the presence of JJ Gabriel, only 15 years old but already regarded as one of the brightest gems in Man Utd’s academy.

Gabriel is often compared to a “new Neymar” due to his exceptional individual skills, agile dribbling, and intelligent football mindset. This past summer, Manchester United faced the risk of losing Gabriel as several major European clubs attempted to sign him. However, the club’s leadership intervened promptly. Technical director Jason Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada personally met with the young player, persuading him to stay by promising a clear pathway to the first team.

Since the start of the season, Gabriel has been promoted to the U18 squad and quickly proven his quality with 7 goals and 1 assist in 6 matches. His outstanding performances have attracted attention not only from experts but also from major brands. Sportswear giant Nike even outbid Adidas to secure an exclusive sponsorship deal with the 15-year-old player.

According to Manchester Evening News, many at Carrington believe JJ Gabriel could become the greatest talent ever produced by Manchester United’s academy. Coach Ruben Amorim also met with Gabriel privately last month to share his football philosophy and encouraged him to follow Cristiano Ronaldo’s example, a role model of dedication and professionalism in every training session.

Despite high expectations, Gabriel must wait for his official debut due to Premier League rules allowing players to participate only in the season they turn 16. Having just celebrated his 15th birthday earlier this month, he will have to wait until next year to be eligible for first-team matches.

Now, with new signings like Senne Lammens, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Sesko, alongside rising young stars such as JJ Gabriel, Manchester United is showcasing a completely refreshed outlook.