Darren Fletcher has explained the club’s current plan for Manchester United’s young star JJ Gabriel, with Rúben Amorim keeping an eye on the 14-year-old.
Manchester United’s proud tradition has always centred on developing and elevating young talent from their Academy, and the club continue to follow that same path today.
From the legendary class of ’92 to the more recent crop of graduates, many of United’s triumphs can be traced back to the strength of their youth system.
Their most recent silverware came in the 2023 FA Cup under Erik ten Hag, when United defeated Manchester City 2-1 thanks to goals from academy graduates Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.
Now, fresh reports suggest another Carrington product is reaping the rewards of United’s academy setup, having once again joined in with first-team training.
Fletcher confirms plans for young stars
Darren Fletcher has recently been promoted to the role of manager for United’s U18s squad, which is stacked full of talent.
In the last few weeks, some of United’s current youngest stars have been playing for Fletcher’s side, with 14-year-old JJ Gabriel and 15-year-old Kai Rooney, son of United legend Wayne Rooney, both seeing minutes.
“It’s important we let them develop,” Fletcher told club media when speaking about the development of players such as Gabriel and Rooney.
“They’ve got loads of development to do, but they’re sponges. They want to learn. They’re young boys who just enjoy football. They take on the information, we’re trying to give them a platform on which to express themselves.
“And we have to recognise their age as well. We don’t want them to grow up too quickly. Let them just develop. It’s difficult when they’re on TV, but that’s part of the game and the modern world.
“We don’t want to hold anybody back. If you’re performing, you’re going to get rewards for it. They’ve played because they deserve it, and they’ve shown they can compete and fight at this level.
“We believe in a variety of experiences, so it’s important they play at their own age group, and it’s important they get tested [at this level] and they find things tough.”
Amorim keeping a close eye on Gabriel’s development
While Gabriel was spotted as a special guest in United’s director’s box during the first-team’s 1-0 loss against Arsenal on Sunday afternoon, Amorim is also keeping a close eye on the young star, too.
Read More: Alejandro Garnacho makes final decision on his future after missing out on Argentina selection
According to MailSport, the first-team head coach has taken a ‘keen interest’ in Gabriel’s developments, and has requested to be kept abreast of the 14-year-old star’s progress.
Amorim is said to have been watching clips of Gabriel during the club’s pre-season tour, no doubt keeping half an eye on the youngster as he continues to formulate long-term plans at Old Trafford.
MailSport further reports that those at the club see Gabriel as the most talented of all United’s young stars. Considering 15-year-old Max Dowman’s progress to Arsenal’s first team in North London, Gabriel’s involvement in Amorim’s training sides may become a reality this campaign.
Make sure to follow UtdDistrict on X, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok to never miss out on any of our Manchester United content. Our podcast, What the Devil?, is streamed live every Thursday at 12:30 pm (BST) on the United View YouTube channel.