Featured Image Credit: Instagram/JJ Garbiel
Topics: Manchester United, Football, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo
Nasir Jabbar
Topics: Manchester United, Football, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo
Manchester United have broken their shirt number history for their wonderkid who has been compared to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
JJ Gabriel is viewed as one of the most exciting prospects Man United have ever produced, with a compilation of his youth debut showing why he has been dubbed as 'Kid Messi'.
The 14-year-old sensation is set to sign a new deal with the Red Devils amid interest from several European powerhouses, including Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
According to The Daily Mail, Man United chiefs Jason Wilcox and Matt Hargreaves are said to have a made a 'crucial intervention' in the last week to persuade him to remain at Old Trafford.
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Despite his age, it appears he will get the chance to train alongside the first-team.
That's judging by an image that has circulated online.
A post shared on social media shows Gabriel kitted out in Man United's training gear, with an eye-catching shirt number.
He can be seen wearing a training kit, emblazoned with No.95.
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Per the report, 95 is the highest squad number in history handed out to a Man United player.
The previous record was held by 17-year-old centre-back Godwill Kunoki, who wore the No.87 shirt in the 2024/25 season. He is still on the club's books.
Big things are expected from Gabriel, who recently signed a lucrative sponsorship deal with Nike as it has been suggested that a key part of their pitch to the youngster was that they see him as 'next in line' to Ronaldo's throne. It was also discussed that he could be the future face of Nike’s Mercurial brand.
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Gabriel, whose full name is Joseph Junior Andreou Gabriel, honed his technique in futsal as much as in football.
Alfie Brooks, who is Gabriel’s specialist one-to-one coach, gave an insight into the teenager's talent in the report.
"He was very raw but he was very competitive," Brooks said. "When he first started training, those were the standout attributes.
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"I’ve coached nearly 1,000 academy players over my time - four of them in Josh Nichols (Arsenal), Josh Acheampong (Chelsea), Sydie Peck (Sheffield United) and Tyrique George (Chelsea) have made their senior debuts - and JJ is the best I’ve ever seen.
"He could go into a Premier League changing room right now and technically he would be better than all of them. It wouldn’t even be close."