Manchester United appear to have an incredible talent in their ranks – Alejandro Garnacho and JJ Gabriel.
JJ Gabriel (right) has copied the Alejandro Garnacho celebrartion. (Image: Getty / MUTV)
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.
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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The youngster has been compared to the legendary Lionel Messi. (Image: Getty)
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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.
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.
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has come to the defense of his former teammates who have faced heavy criticism during their time at Old Trafford.Playing for a club like Manchester United often puts players under a magnifying glass, and with the team’s struggles on the pitch over the past decade, that scrutiny has only intensified.
Pogba, himself no stranger to media discussions, was a frequent target of criticism, particularly from former Liverpool player Graeme Souness, who recently claimed he “wouldn’t sign [Pogba] on a free” following Pogba’s reduced drug ban.
In a recent interview with Sky Sports, Pogba was asked about the intense criticism of players such as Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford. He pointed out that the size and prominence of the club were major factors in the level of scrutiny they face.
“Why the criticism? For performance or for something else? I think you’re at the biggest club in England with a lot of fans. They need to say something I guess, and all the players you mention are talented,” Pogba said.
He also highlighted the differences in perception when it comes to more successful teams, such as Manchester City. According to Pogba, players on those teams receive less individual criticism because they perform cohesively.
“You win as a team. You never point at one player at Man City, but they play as a team, win as a team. When they don’t play well, it’s the team that don’t play well. When you lose, you are going to get criticism,” Pogba added.
The French midfielder also responded to former United star Wayne Rooney’s criticism of both himself and Jesse Lingard, suggesting that the full story wasn’t being told.
A report over the summer revealed that Manchester United players are not only among the most scrutinized in the media but also face significant abuse online.
Six of the ten most abused Premier League players represent the club, with Marcus Rashford leading the list.
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