JJ Gabriel sends a one-word message to Man United after being overlooked for the Rosenborg game
Manchester United wonderkid JJ Gabriel sent a clear message to fans after he was left on the bench against Rosenborg.
On Friday evening, United bounced back from a 1-0 loss to Wrexham in their first pre-season game with a strong 5-0 win over Rosenborg in Norway.
While new signing Andrey Santos caught a lot of attention online, goals from Shea Lacey, Joshua Zirkzee, Jacob Devaney, Harry Amass, and Ethan Williams showed that it’s really United’s academy players who deserve the spotlight.
So, many fans were quite disappointed when Michael Carrick chose not to give young star Gabriel his debut during the easy win.
Gabriel was the Under-18 Premier League player of the season last year, even though he was only 14 at the start, and is seen as one of the most exciting future stars for both United and England.
Yet, Gabriel and Jim Thwaites were the only outfield players Carrick didn’t bring on against Rosenborg.
After the game, one fan wrote on X: “5-0 up and we don’t get JJ Gabriel minutes, we play Atletico Madrid and PSG next? When will we get them?”
But Gabriel asked everyone to hang in there, sharing a photo of his first team kit on Instagram with a simple word: “Patience.”
It’s not clear why Carrick didn’t give Gabriel his first senior minutes, but it might be because he wanted to protect the 15-year-old from too much pressure and attention, given all the excitement around him.
With plenty more games on United’s pre-season tour, fans still have a good chance to see Gabriel play soon.
Gabriel, who won’t turn 16 until October, has become one of the most talked-about young players in football.
Born in London in 2010, he played for Chelsea, Arsenal, and West Ham youth teams before joining United in 2022.
Right away, he made an impact by scoring twice in his U18 debut against Leeds and was even invited to train with the first team under Ruben Amorim last October.
He also scored in the FA Youth Cup against Peterborough in December and has represented England at U15, U16, and U17 levels.
Speaking about Gabriel in March, Carrick said: “JJ is a big talent, that’s clear. He’s had a great season for the Under-18s. We think a lot of him, but patience is key in managing everything that comes with that and helping him grow, just like we do with other young players, choosing the right time for him to step up.
“When he’s trained with us, he’s done well, as you’d expect. It’s great to have younger players come up with the first team.”
Meanwhile, Darren Fletcher, who coached Gabriel at the Under-18s, called him an “amazing talent” and a “fantastic kid” who definitely has a bright future in the first team.