Kai Rooney nets his first goal for Manchester United's Under-18 team, but his father's achievement is outshone by the remarkable performance of a 14-year-old protégé.
In a thrilling display of young talent, JJ Gabriel, a 14-year-old Irish-qualified footballer, stole the show during Manchester United Under-18s' 5-0 victory over Middlesbrough Under-18s.
Gabriel, who has committed his future to Manchester United for at least the next two years, gave a standout performance that left fans in awe. He scored twice during the game, with his first goal being a poacher's effort and the second a brilliant left-footed strike.
Kai Rooney, a teammate of Gabriel, also found the back of the net for the first time in the Under-18s, scoring with a touch of good fortune as his shot deflected off a defender before looping over the goalkeeper.
Fans were quick to praise Gabriel's performance, with one writing: "This kid is ridiculous. What a player we have." Another added: "He's genuinely a joke. Incredible." A third fan even compared Gabriel to Facundo Pellistri, another highly-rated United youngster, stating: "More technical than Garnacho. A star already brewing."
Technical director Jason Wilcox and director of football Matt Hargreaves played active roles in keeping Gabriel at the club, ensuring that the promising youngster would continue to develop within the Manchester United academy.
Gabriel is now set to train with Ruben Amorim's first team this season, although no specific date for his debut has been announced. With his exceptional skill and potential, many believe that Gabriel could become Manchester United's youngest EVER Premier League player.
The match in question took place between Manchester United Under-18s and Middlesbrough Under-18s, but no further information was provided about the competition or league in which the game took place. Despite this, it is clear that the future of Manchester United's youth setup is in good hands with the likes of JJ Gabriel and Kai Rooney leading the way.
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