Manchester United are crying out for another meteoric rise akin to the one Cristiano Ronaldo enjoyed at Old Trafford. The iconic Portuguese forward went from brace-faced teenage prospect to Ballon d'Or winner during his hugely successful first spell with the Red Devils.
There have been several academy graduates who have caught the eye in recent years. Kobbie Mainoo, 19, has established himself as a first-team regular, and there are other teenagers knocking on Ruben Amorim's door.
It's an exciting time to be a youngster at Old Trafford given INEOS' intent to focus on youth rather than ready-made talent. This has largely led to the club persuading one of their hottest commodities to perform a U-turn and stay put.
Future star JJ Gabriel commits to Man United
Daily Mail's Nathan Salt reports that United's new sporting director Jason Wilcox and head of recruitment Matt Hargreaves have successfully convinced JJ Gabriel to remain with the club. It's claimed that key meetings have led to a U-turn and they were so "incredibly positive" that a long-term stay beyond his 16th birthday looks likely.
Gabriel is one of the fastest rising stars at United and is being touted as the club's heir to Cristiano Ronaldo. There are huge expectations of the 14-year-old, who has already been promoted to the Reds' U18s squad.
That said, Gabriel's sensational performances at youth level had led to an expectation that he'd depart this summer. It would have been a massive blow given his enormous potential and clear opportunities for youth to break into the senior setup.
Who is JJ Gabriel?
JJ Gabriel's stock continues to grow at United and there is a belief that he could become the club's youngest-ever player. Born in London, England, the tricky attacker isn't just viewed as a Ronaldo heir but also been likened to Lionel Messi.
The sky is the limit for Gabriel and he signed a new long-term contract with Nike after being dubbed one of the most sought-after academy players in world football. There is a good chance he makes his senior debut in cup competition next season.
Gabriel has been in stellar form at youth level and has managed three goals in as many games since making the step up to the U18s team in their respective Premier League competition. He's an elegant gem with the ball at his feet and he hit a fabulous brace in a 13-1 win over Leeds United in April.
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