Sports company Nike have come out on top in a sensational sponsorship war for Manchester United youngster JJ Gabriel.
The 14 year old is one of the most hyped and discussed talents at the football club at the moment and was even called “Kid Messi” when he was younger.
He scored a hattrick in the Floodlit Cup in October, which caught the eye of numerous clubs around Europe.
Gabriel has also impressed many around the club and at only 14 years old, he was promoted to the Under-18s, as coaches have been flabbergasted by his potential.
The Daily Mail report that United are aware of massive interest in the player from European giants such as Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
For that reason, the club have accelerated his progress as he travelled and warmed up with United’s under-18s ahead of the Youth Cup quarter final victory over Arsenal last week.
The Mail also reported that “a queue of brands” are eager to work with the youngster as his Instagram followers have sky-rocketed lately.
“A flurry of major brands were jockeying to land Gabriel in the past few months before he put pen to paper with Nike last month on what is understood to be one of the most lucrative contracts handed out to a player of his age.”
“Nike representatives regularly watch Gabriel at matches and he has been on the radar of multiple brands since he penned his first deal with Nike as an Under 10 player.”
United were keen for Gabriel to sign with their kit sponsors Adidas, but it was the American sportswear company that came out on top.
One source close to the player claimed that “he’s going to end up like Ronaldo. Just goals, goals, goals.”
With numerous recent youth signings such as Chido Obi and Ayden Heaven making their debuts in the last few weeks and United’s progress to the semi-finals of the Youth Cup, it is certainly an exciting time around the club at academy level.
Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images
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Alex Browne
Alex is a huge Manchester United fan, inspired by greats of his homeland such as George Best, Harry Gregg and Norman Whiteside. Proud owner of such niche shirts such as Kleberson, Eric Djemba-Djemba and Gary Neville. Grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in the back garden, with little success.
