Amorim demands that Manchester United's new youth prince emulate Cristiano Ronaldo! He promises to give him significant playing time and aims to set a club record.

JJ Gabriel, a Manchester United youth talent, caught the spotlight this week by netting the decisive goal in his debut at Old Trafford, securing progression in the FA Youth Cup. Legends like Giggs, Beckham, Scholes, Rashford, Garnacho, and Kobe Meno all played in this competition before joining the senior squad, with varying outcomes. The Red Devils hope Gabriel will join the ranks of successful players.

Although only 15 years and two months old, Gabriel frequently trains with the first team at Carrington. It is widely believed he will become Manchester United’s youngest Premier League player. The current record was set by a Portuguese coach’s pupil: Mourinho brought on Angel Gomes, who is of Portuguese descent, against Crystal Palace, replacing Rooney at just 16 years and 263 days old.

Gabriel cannot participate in the Premier League this season, but even if he debuts next season, he can still break the record. Born in October, he can become the club’s youngest Premier League player anytime during the 2026/27 season.

Gabriel’s coach believes he has the potential to break many other records throughout his career. Discussions are ongoing about what achievements Gabriel might reach, with some youth academy experts considering him possibly the best player ever developed by Manchester United’s youth system.

This is, of course, an exaggeration because Manchester United’s academy has produced greats like Bobby Charlton. Gabriel must first become a successful United player before aiming to surpass those illustrious predecessors. Understandably, the club wants to manage external expectations to help Gabriel focus on his own growth and development.

Those close to the young player claim they are not worried he will become arrogant. He has strong family support and good friends around him who keep him grounded. To them, Gabriel is just “JJ,” not a big star. However, such praise is meaningless—before Kobe Meno demanded a £200,000 weekly wage, his agent and close circle also worked hard to maintain his down-to-earth image.

Another challenge Manchester United faces is keeping Gabriel long-term. The club fought hard this summer to persuade him to stay after learning he was about to leave for a major European club. They held a last-minute meeting at Carrington, offering various conditions, which ultimately convinced the young talent to remain.

Manchester United’s sporting director Jason Wilcox and CEO Omar Berrada attended the meeting to show the club’s high regard for Gabriel. The club emphasized in negotiations that Gabriel could become a symbol of the club. In the end, both sides reached an agreement for Gabriel to continue his journey at United.

The ages of 14 and 16 are critical for youth players, as rivals have opportunities to poach talent. Gabriel signed a two-year extension with Manchester United, but since his parents hold multiple European passports, he could sign with a European club at an earlier age, possibly next year.

Therefore, Manchester United might need him to make his first-team debut before turning 16. Recently, the club introduced Gabriel to head coach Amorim, who explained his football philosophy, particularly emphasizing the importance of hard work.

Amorim cited his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo as an example, having played alongside him for the Portuguese national team. The United coach shared many stories about the Portuguese star’s mentality, especially his dedication to training—not only in practice sessions but also in everyday life.

Gabriel is familiar with this mindset; he signed with Manchester United alongside Ronaldo’s eldest son, Mini-Ro, who is also his friend. When Ronaldo left United, he gifted Gabriel a signed jersey as a farewell present.

All sports brands are eager to collaborate with Gabriel. Manchester United’s main sponsor Adidas tried hard to sign him, but ultimately Nike, Ronaldo’s sponsor, outbid their rival and secured a contract with Gabriel, viewing him as the "heir to Cristiano Ronaldo’s throne."

Rather than chasing records or comparing himself to legends, Gabriel’s more realistic goal is to help Manchester United’s U18 team win the FA Youth Cup and then aim to compete in the senior FA Cup. Talent alone doesn’t guarantee success; hard work is the key for a professional footballer.