Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, along with several Premier League clubs, are interested in Manchester United forward JJ Gabriel. The 15-year-old has made it clear he wants to leave Man Utd and has asked to be deregistered immediately to become a free agent. Gabriel and his team feel United had ample opportunities to involve him more in pre-season and in first-team squads since the season started, including in the Champions League.
United's hierarchy will keep trying to convince Gabriel to stay while he is still registered with them. However, it is understood Gabriel has made up his mind and, as far as he's concerned, has played his last game for the club. Gabriel turns 16 on October 6 and cannot sign a scholarship agreement until then, or a professional contract until he turns 17.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Premier League rules state that a youth registration can only be cancelled if the club, player and parent or carer agree. If they cannot reach an agreement, the Premier League can make a binding decision. Conversations now with Gabriel's team and his family will be key, and it will be up to Man Utd chief executive Omar Berrada, director of football Jason Wilcox and academy director Stephen Torpey to attempt to de-escalate the situation.
But the biggest clubs around the Premier League and the rest of Europe will all be monitoring the situation with Gabriel as it evolves. He was not included in the A-list for Champions League participation and featured for eight minutes for the first team in pre-season, and there is a feeling he has not been afforded as many opportunities as other young players around the squad. However, those inside Carrington believe not much more could have been done to show a pathway through to the senior team for the young star.
In the last 12 months, Gabriel met former United head coach Ruben Amorim in his office as a first step towards the first team, followed by a meeting not too soon after with Sir Alex Ferguson. Gabriel then trained with the first team last season and was part of Carrick's pre-season squad at times this summer as well, making his debut against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm last month. However, Gabriel has started this season incredibly well.
He scored a hat-trick against Sabah last week in the UEFA Youth League and has two goals and two assists in Premier League 2 so far this season. Gabriel became the youngest winner of United's Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award last season after scoring more than 20 goals for the U18s. Man Utd head coach Michael Carrick has asked for Gabriel's welfare to be protected amid the doubts over the teenager's future at the club.
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