Manchester United Includes 15-Year-Old JJ Gabriel for Atletico Madrid Match

Manchester United’s pre-season is about to get serious. Stockholm, Diego Simeone, Atletico Madrid – and a 15-year-old in the travelling squad.

JJ Gabriel, the highly rated academy forward, has been named in Michael Carrick’s 23-man group for Saturday’s friendly at the Strawberry Arena, keeping his place after last week’s 5-0 win over Rosenborg and edging closer to a first senior appearance.

He travelled to Trondheim but never left the bench. This time, the stage is bigger and the opposition far sharper. If Carrick turns to him, it would be a landmark moment in a summer that has tilted heavily towards youth.

Bayindir and Amad back in the fold

The headline for the senior setup is the return of Altay Bayindir and Amad, both back from World Cup duty and straight into the squad for the meeting with Atletico.

They rejoined training at Carrington at the start of the week and now step into a fixture that should offer a far sterner examination than Wrexham in Helsinki or Rosenborg in Norway. Carrick has trimmed the numbers slightly from those earlier trips, a nod to the rising standard of opposition and a desire to sharpen his core group.

Belgian pair Senne Lammens and Youri Tielemans reported in on Thursday, but the game has come too soon for either to feature. Their time will come later in pre-season; Stockholm belongs to those already up to speed.

Youngsters shuffled, standards raised

Gabriel’s inclusion again is significant. He was one of only two outfield players not used against Rosenborg, the other being midfielder Jim Thwaites, who has now gone two games as an unused substitute. Both remain in the squad, still on the brink, still waiting for the moment when Carrick points to them.

Others haven’t been as fortunate. Toby Collyer, Dan Gore, Jacob Devaney and Chido Obi all drop out of the travelling party this time, squeezed out as the level rises and more senior options return.

The message is clear: the early tour minutes were a chance to impress, but the closer United move towards the new season, the tighter the circle becomes.

The 23-man squad

United’s squad to face Atletico Madrid in Stockholm:

• Goalkeepers: Altay Bayindir, Tom Heaton, Kie Plumley Mee, Radek Vitek.
• Defenders: Harry Amass, Louis Armer, Victor Kristiansen Dorgu, Habeeb Ogunneye Heaven, Jaydan Kamason, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Leny Yoro.
• Midfielders: Jack Fletcher, Tyler Fletcher, Mason Mount, Gabriel Santos, Jim Thwaites.

A high-profile opponent, a rising tempo, and a 15-year-old forward waiting for his first taste of senior football. If the game opens up in Stockholm, does Carrick hand Gabriel his moment against Simeone’s Atletico?