United legend says “absolute talent” must be promoted to the first-team squad this season amid comparisons to Neymar – exclusive

As the 2026 summer transfer window captures the imagination of Manchester United fans, attention drifts away from the players who might join the first team squad from the Academy next season. However, the club has a strong tradition of promoting from within, and there are several up-and-coming youngsters who will be hoping to make the breakthrough to the first team squad in the new season. One such name that sets the pulse of the Old Trafford faithful racing is that of JJ Gabriel. Still just 15 years old, Gabriel has been dubbed the next Neymar by expectant fans and has breezed his way up the Academy’s age groups, scoring an incredible 26 goals in 26 league games for the Under-18s and three in six in the FA Youth Cup in 2025/26. But what will United do next with this prodigious talent? In an exclusive interview hosted by BetTOM, we asked legendary United defender Wes Brown his thoughts on the matter. Should United promote Gabriel to the first team squad? “Do you know what? I think he is good enough,” Brown beamed. “He’s obviously not a fully grown man yet, but at the same time, he’s got the talent there, and you have to start to put him in here by here so he starts to understand the men’s game especially.” “He’s definitely got the talent to do that. You’ve seen how other clubs have done it with players. You’ve got to guide them in, and hopefully they start to understand the game.” Comparisons and Expectations “I’m not gonna put him up against [Lamine] Yamal, but the same thing happened with Yamal – bit by bit, bring him on. We know he’s got the talent, it’s whether up there mentally he’s ready. And that’s the challenge really.” Brown went on to say that a good showing in pre-season could help head coach Michael Carrick decide to take a punt on the youngster. “I’m sure we’ll see Gabriel in preseason, and then it’s up to the manager to assess whether he’s right to do that yet. But it’s a tough one. Everybody grows up mentally at a different age.” “He’s absolute talent and someone who we would love to see make a few appearances for the first team and see how it goes. But you don’t want it to go the other way as well, when it doesn’t go as well as you hoped and all of a sudden mentally it’s tough to handle.” Would a loan be an option? “I would say 100% no,” Brown said. “Just because it’s someone that we should be protecting a little bit. But … I don’t know what his mind’s like and if he’s tough enough for that at his age… it’s about the right time with him.” The first part of our exclusive interview with Wes Brown, on Kobbie Mainoo at the World Cup, can be read here. Featured image Alex Livesey 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 Red Billy Red Billy is the managing editor of The Peoples Person, author of three books and two magazines and totally obsessed with football’s transfer market. Billy first saw United live in 1971, watching George Best, Bobby Charlton and Denis Law, before becoming a League Match ticket book holder from 1975/76 and a writer since 1995. Billy still insists Matteo Darmian and Alex Telles could have made it at United given half a chance.