Man Utd ‘big talent’ may not play for Michael Carrick after INEOS U-turn
Subhankar Mondal Manchester United manager Michael Carrick
Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick has described JJ Gabriel as a “big talent”, but the former England international midfielder may not be able to play the teenager in the Premier League ever.
JJ Gabriel has earned a reputation for being one of the best young talents in England, with the forward impressing forMan Utdat youth levels.
Former Man Utd manager Ruben Amorim promoted JJ Gabriel to first-team training back in October 2025 and described him as “a really talented guy”.
Man Utd first-team Bryan Mbeumo has been hugely impressed with the 15-year-old forward in training, too.
Mbeumo recently said about JJ Gabriel in an interview with Zack En Roue Libre: “He’s strong, the little guy is strong.
“Yeah, he’s strong, he’s really something, frankly. He’s really strong for, I don’t know how old he is, I think he’s 15.
READ: Heaven’s comedic indifference one of five reasons Man Utd should snub Carrick
“You feel that he’s bound to be a little kid but he trains quite a bit with us and actually you see, you can feel that the little guy has something special.
“Of course, and you also see it when he plays already he’s not even with the guys of his generation, and what he does you feel it’s easy for him.
“He’s actually kind of a winger, he’s a dribbler and even in front of the box, I still think he’s good, honestly. Even when it’s one-on-one, often when you’re young, one-on-one in front of the goalkeeper, you stutter but I think he already has good blood.
“We saw him score some nice goals, he has a good shot. Technically he’s strong.”
READ MORE: Manchester United hatch brilliant plan to avoid Champions League ‘nightmare scenario’
Man Utd interim-manager Carrickhas been effusive in his praise of JJ Gabriel, too, praising the youngster in a press conference on Friday after including the 15-year-old in first-team training this week.
Carrick told The Manchester Evening Newsabout JJ Gabriel: “He’s doing really well, JJ.
“We’ve got some really good young players in the academy and we try and get the younger players up as much as we can.
“We’re always trying to give that exposure to the players to come and train and feel it. JJ is a big talent, it’s pretty obvious to know that, and he’s had a really good season for the under-18s.
“We obviously think an awful lot of him, but patience is important in managing everything that comes with that and working with him in development as we do with all the different age groups and younger players and picking the right moment to step up, picking the moment to leave them in a certain place and ups and downs.
“When he’s trained, he’s done well, as you’d expect, and it’s good to have the younger players come up with us.”
Despite Carrick’s praise for JJ Gabriel, there is a distinct possibility that the Man Utd interim manager will not be able to play him in a Premier League game ever.
JJ Gabriel, who has scored 20 goals and given three assists in 22 matches at the youth level for Man Utd this season, turned 15 only in October 2025.
This means that he is considered too young to play in the Premier League this season because he was 14 when the 2025/26 campaign.
Carrick is under contract at Man Utd until the end of the season, and there is a very good chance that the club’s co-owners, INEOS, will move on from him.
The i Paper?reported on February 19, 2026, that Carrick was the ‘favourite’ for the Man Utd managerial role on a full-time basis.
However, INEOS’ stance has since changed, with transfer journalist Ben Jacobsreporting this month that?Carrick is not the leading candidate.
Jacobs said on?The United Stand: “I don’t think we can call Michael Carrick the frontrunner for the job.”
The reporter added: “Roberto De Zerbi, Julian Nagelsmann and Roberto Martinez are names being discussed at the moment.
“Mauricio Pochettino and Kieran McKenna are still appreciated, but are not expected to be frontrunners for the job.”
JJ Gabriel will get better if he continues to train with the Man Utd first-team training this season, but the benefits of that could be reaped by someone other than Carrick.
READ NEXT: Big Weekend: Liverpool v Tottenham, Man United, Pep Guardiola, Kai Havertz
Manchester United Michael Carrick
Related Articles
Will Ford
Man Utd trio make next manager decision as ‘chess player’ catches strays
Senior Man Utd players have voted for their next permanent manager at Old Trafford.
Manchester United Michael Carrick Editor F365
Man Utd ‘in purgatory’ under Carrick as Klopp ‘logic’ dispels top replacement doubts
Man Utd fans are split over Michael Carrick, who is not the answer merely because he’s not been a disaster, but what’s the harm in a one-year deal?
Mailbox Michael Carrick George Dempsey
David Beckham admits Man Utd ‘last few months more comfortable than last 10 years’
The Manchester United managerial carousel has spun so fast over the last decade that it has left most of the club’s legends dizzy, disillusioned, or—in the case of Roy…
Home Page David Beckham Lewis Oldham
Man Utd: Carrick ‘firmly on course’ to be appointed as INEOS decision on two ‘elite’ successors revealed
Manchester United have reportedly decided when to make the ‘final call’ on Michael Carrick, who is ‘firmly on course’ to be their next permanent manager.
Manchester United Luis Enrique Lewis Oldham
Man Utd appointing Carrick, Guardiola resignation among six announcements to save international break
We are crying out for another Mo Salah-esque huge story to save the international break, so could Man Utd or Pep Guardiola pull their fingers out, please…
F365 Features Jurgen Klopp Sarah Winterburn
Who will be Manchester United manager next season? Carrick still favourite as Enrique hopes fade
Michael Carrick is the interim manager of Manchester United but will his brilliant start see him Solskjaered into a permanent gig?
F365 Features Michael Carrick
Latest Football News
Tottenham player-manager one of seven interim ‘options’ to replace Igor Tudor
Ben Davies Harry Redknapp
Tottenham next manager timeframe revealed after Tudor exit as ‘Spurs man’ backed
Igor Tudor
Tottenham confirm Igor Tudor exit and tease ‘new Head Coach’
Igor Tudor Roberto De Zerbi
‘Not Harvard English’ – Toni Kroos confused by Geordie accent as brother Felix hails Newcastle ‘summer’
Toni Kroos
Hungary manager hits out at Arne Slot ‘nonsense’ after telling Liverpool boss ‘not to interfere’
Arne Slot Mailbox
Man Utd ‘in purgatory’ under Carrick as Klopp ‘logic’ dispels top replacement doubts
Michael Carrick
Carrick in or out? Man Utd would be stupid to rush manager decision
Michael Carrick Popular
Rashford, Foden, Gordon to Liverpool proposed as Salah debate rages on
Mohamed Salah Popular
Mo Salah is no Luis Suarez; the Liverpool fan verdict is in
Mohamed Salah Popular Premier League Table Full Table
#
TEAM
P
W
D
L
GD
PTS
View More
Mediawatch
Arsenal star ‘called out’ as Spurs handed ‘huge boost’ and World Cup ‘nightmare’ emerges
Viktor Gyokeres
Arsenal face summer ‘transfer conundrum’ as Mo Salah ‘dream club’ revealed
Mohamed Salah Popular
Salah exit prompts ‘genuine concern’ about Premier League as two Liverpool mysteries solved
Mo Salah Popular
Arsenal season starting to unravel as ‘injury crisis’ hits at ‘worst possible time’
Copyright Notice: The content of this article is contributed by Internet users. The views only represent the author. This site only provides information storage services and does not own ownership or bear relevant legal responsibilities. If you find any suspected infringement or illegal content, please contact us. We will delete it immediately after verification.