United’s very own Lamine Yamal “will definitely” play for first team next season, claims club legend

Manchester United fans have been given another reason to keep a close eye on JJ Gabriel. According to Metro, United legend Wes Brown believes Gabriel could come into the first-team picture next season. After all, the academy attacker is continuing to build a huge reputation at Carrington. Essentially, Brown’s view is that the pathway is opening up for the youngster once the current campaign is out of the way. Wes Brown sees major potential The former defender was full of praise for the 15-year-old’s natural ability, remarking that: “The talent is there. Crazy talent.” The 46-year-old also stressed that the main issue is not about quality. Instead, he observed that: “It is about timing.” Meanwhile, the excitement around Gabriel has grown a lot in recent months. This is thanks to his displays at youth level as well as his exposure to first-team training. In addition, the ex-Sunderland man compared Gabriel to a certain 18-year-old Spain international, noting that: “The best example is with what Barcelona have done with Lamine Yamal. The talent was there, we know that now.” Brown also highlighted the teenager’s confidence on the pitch and the freedom he shows whenever he gets hold of the ball, pointing out that: “He is fearless, he is always trying to make something happen.” He even went further to emphasise that: “The way he glides past players is unbelievable.” Why next season could be crucial for JJ Gabriel Despite the noise around his progress and development, however, Gabriel has not been able to make a Premier League appearance this term due to age regulations. Brown’s assertion that “Next season he will definitely be in the conversation” is therefore timely because it is a realistic next step in which the academy forward can make the jump to senior action. Furthermore, Gabriel could even surpass United’s youngest-ever debutant record – currently held by Chido Obi after his appearance against Brentford – if he breaks into the men’s side in the 2026/27 campaign. No matter the outcome, Old Trafford have a generational talent on their hands. Featured image Christopher Furlong via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Okari Wambunya Okari Wambunya is a football writer at The Peoples Person, covering Manchester United with fast, accurate, and source-led news, analysis, opinions, team developments, injuries, press conferences, and matchday reactions. A former secondary school teacher, he now coaches college football (not soccer) and continues to support young people through academic mentoring and youth work. He holds a BA (Hons) in English from Brunel University London and an MA in Education from King’s College London, with experience across digital journalism and broadcast sports media. Okari first praised Michael Carrick in a blog post he wrote at 16-years-old in 2014; over a decade later, United appointing Carrick as interim head coach feels like a full-circle moment.