Manchester United defender Leny Yoro has lavished praise on academy star JJ Gabriel following his senior debut against Atletico Madrid on Saturday, 1 August. The French defender started the game and helped the Red Devils secure a 2-1 comeback win in pre-season, courtesy of a Bryan Mbeumo brace.
Meanwhile, Gabriel etched his name into United folklore by becoming the youngest player to feature for the first team in the club’s history. The young Englishman came on in the 82nd minute to warm applause from the United supporters at the stadium, while countless others were certainly following him from home.
Gabriel won the Jimmy Murphy Player of the Year and the Under-18 Premier League Player of the Year awards last season following an outstanding run with the Under-18 team. The 15 year old registered 26 goals and four assists in 29 appearances, justifying the hype around him among fans.
JJ Gabriel Stats: 2025/26 Season
| Competition | Appearances | Starts | Goals | Assists | Yellow Cards | Red Cards | Minutes Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U18 Premier League | 23 | 22 | 23 | 3 | – | – | 1,968′ |
| FA Youth Cup | 6 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 3 | – | 588′ |
| Total | 29 | 28 | 26 | 4 | 3 | – | 2,556′ |
Source: Transfermarkt.
The youngster had trained with the first team on several occasions last season but could not make his debut due to regulatory constraints. His inclusion in this summer’s pre-season squad, as such, generated a buzz among fans.
Gabriel’s much-anticipated United debut
Gabriel was not in the squad for United’s first pre-season game, the 1-0 defeat to Wrexham. The player joined training ahead of the second game against Rosenborg and was included in the matchday squad as well.
However, Michael Carrick opted against bringing him on as the Red Devils ran riot at the Lerkendal Stadion in Trondheim, Norway, picking up a 5-0 win. If fans were disappointed not to catch a glimpse of the starlet, their prayers were answered this weekend.
Gabriel had six touches of the ball in his cameo against Atletico Madrid, attempted one shot, won one duel, and was also fouled once. It was clear that United have a gem on their hands, and Yoro has now offered some advice to the youngster.
Yoro offers advice to Gabriel
Speaking after the game, as cited by The Mirror, Yoro was also full of praise for Gabriel. He said: “He’s a really good player. Still really young, still a lot to learn, a lot to improve. He’s really humble, still working, so I’m happy for him to get his first minutes, so I hope for him it’s going to continue like that.”
Yoro joined United as a teenager in 2024 in a reported £52 million deal, becoming the most expensive player below the age of 18 in history. The Frenchman drew parallels with his own experiences as he advised Gabriel, adding: “I can see myself.”
“[I would say] stay humble, just want to work, and this is what we need in the team, even for the young guys. They’re all doing really well, and JJ is one of them, so I hope he’s going to learn a lot, continue like that, improve, yeah. But he’s really good, a good player.”
A previous report relayed by The Peoples Person suggests that United have stepped up their efforts to ensure that Gabriel remains at Old Trafford for the near future.
Final Thoughts
United will have to be cautious with Gabriel and ensure he is afforded time and ample guidance to realise his true potential. While fans can expect to see the youngster feature next season, they will have to be patient with him and refrain from putting too much pressure on his young shoulders.
Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images
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Deepungsu Pandit
Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.
