Manchester United manager Michael Carrick earned a stay of execution in midweek, with Matheus Cunha inspiring a dramatic turnaround to claim three points against AS Roma in the Champions League.
Carrick spoke of moments, of Old Trafford’s seemingly magical ability to conjure up goals and turn a game on its head. But Man United cannot be a side reliant on flashes of brilliance, or fortune, or the fanbase’s ear-splitting influence.
They need to become a team, creating a system which feels like it’s heading toward success. It’s one of the reasons, perhaps, that JJ Gabriel has decided to leave and sign for Real Madrid.
Why JJ Gabriel’s exit is such a big blow for Man Utd
Maybe these words will end up falling flat, but it certainly feels like JJ Gabriel’s proposed move to Real Madrid could be ill-advised. Will Madrid, so stuffed with exciting prospects, provide this precocious attacker with the platform he needs to become a superstar?
Man United have a long and rich history of growing such prospects, organically, into sensations, but Gabriel has still turned his nose at a pathway toward the top with the Red Devils, frustrated by a lack of opportunity.
Why, then, does the 16-year-old believe Los Blancos will grant him the route he craves? JJ Gabriel is widely regarded as United’s most talented youngster. The player’s brother, Ibrahim, is among his most ardent supporters, even going as far as to describe him as the “next Wayne Rooney”.
For sure, Gabriel deserves a chance to impress. He has scored 34 goals and supplied six assists across 35 matches for United’s development squad, but is yet to make his debut. He is still finding his way from a positional standpoint, but there’s no disputing JJ Gabriel’s finishing as his biggest strength, complemented by sharp pace and a tricksy dribbling style.
|
JJ Gabriel’s Career Stats by Position |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Position |
Apps |
Goals + Assists |
|
Attacking midfield |
19 |
22 + 5 |
|
Centre-forward |
6 |
8 + 1 |
|
Left winger |
5 |
0 + 0 |
Carrick would give him the opportunity to impress, but these things take time. Now, Gabriel is leaving and potentially hurting his chances of realising his potential. In turn, United’s hopes of building a super team in the future have also been impacted.
The hard truth is that JJ Gabriel is leaving. It’s a blow that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS are going to have to take on the chin. Nonetheless, Old Trafford still has a number of potential superstars emerging onto the scene, with Carrick now needing to unleash the new JJ Gabriel.
Why Carrick must unleash Man Utd’s new JJ Gabriel
On Sunday, Manchester United welcome Aston Villa to the Theatre of Dreams. It’s a Premier League match they cannot afford to lose, even against a burgeoning Villan side with an abundance of quality.
United won against Roma, but do not be deceived, there was still a lot wrong with the performance. However, Shea Lacey made a real impact when introduced from the bench in the second half, replacing Amad Diallo and offering the assist for Cunha’s match-winning strike.
The 19-year-old plays with such directness. He is fearless on the ball, and confident that he has the attributes to thrive as a core member of Carrick’s team. He has only played twice in the Premier League this season, totalling 22 minutes of action, but also scored as United were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton back in September.
Lacey is not a blistering runner. He is agile, though, and silky on the turn. Whether he cements himself as a winger or central attacking midfielder remains to be seen, but with Amad flattering to deceive this season, and Lacey so impactful off the bench in midweek, surely this is the right time for him to earn his maiden Premier League start.
What is not up for debate is the England U20 international’s supreme technicality and potential to become one of the standouts at the outfit. Now, Carrick needs to show him some faith, building on that match-changing appearance against Roma.
With JJ Gabriel on his way toward the exit, there’s a strong case to be made that Lacey is the club’s standout prospect, and he must be nurtured and developed over the coming months, convinced that this is the place for him to grow into a superstar.
There’s no question that this is one of the most talented footballers at Manchester United. Lacey is a long way away from reaching his potential, but the potential is certainly there, and INEOS’s decision-makers cannot afford to let their next JJ Gabriel slip away.
