Manchester United may have found a solution to their lavish spending after elevating their ‘mini Lionel Messi’ through the club ranks. United’s transfer policy has been much maligned since the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013, blowing millions on big-name stars who have subsequently under-performed at Old Trafford.
But now Sir Jim Ratcliffe may have the perfect solution to solve the club’s failing transfer policy, even if it means waiting for him to shine at senior level.
JJ Gabriel has again gone viral on social media this week following a stunning hat-trick in the Floodlit Cup.
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Despite being just 14, the forward has long been touted as a future professional star. And he again underlined his potential against Blackburn Rovers Under-15s this week, scoring three times to underline his growing reputation.
The tournament was introduced in order to give young players the experience of performing under floodlights, as opposed to Saturday morning affairs which are often lacking in intensity and atmosphere. And Gabriel certainly appears to relishing the big occasions.
It’s not the first time Gabriel has been asked to excel above his actual age-grade level either. He’s already been elevated to train and travel with the U18s, and participated in the summer tour of Hong Kong with the U16 squad.
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In one game, he showed close control before cutting onto his left foot and firing home from just inside the area. Showing his awareness of what goes on with the senior side at United, he then mimicked Alejandro Garnacho by running to the crowd and sitting on the advertising hoarding, arms folded.
After being awarded the MVP in the second of the two matches in the Far East, he received the award on the pitch from United icon Dimitar Berbatov. The Bulgarian was later full of praise for what he saw from the youngster.
The clips of his play online have led to him receiving numerous comparisons to the legendary Messi, and the Barcelona links don’t end there. Last summer he spent time at the Nou Camp, touring the stadium and even meeting the first-team squad.
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Given his dribbling and finishing prowess, and ability to play anywhere across the front line, that trip inevitably had United fans worried about the Catalan giants making a move. But if the Manchester club can keep hold of him, Gabriel could potentially save them a huge fee in the transfer market.
The profile of ‘mini Messi’ is already growing online, with his Instagram account now followed by more than 83,000 users. All of his posts thus far relate to playing football and his time at United.
