Jamie Carragher has questioned JJ Gabriel’s Manchester United situation, warning that a young player’s entourage can have a big impact on his career.
JJ Gabriel, 15, has asked for his registration at United to be cancelled before making his senior debut. The teenager is regarded as one of the brightest talents to emerge from the academy and had been expected to come into Michael Carrick’s first-team plans this season.
Manchester United are trying to convince JJ Gabriel to stay, although Real Madrid and Barcelona are monitoring the situation.
Jamie Carragher discussed the issue on the Stick to Football podcast and drew on his own experience.
Carragher questions the role of Gabriel’s parents
“In my experience when I was a kid… and watching James [Carragher] come through, in the main when there are situations like this the players never really fulfil their potential.”
The former Liverpool defender suggested parents and entourages can sometimes create problems around young players when they become involved in decisions over playing time.
“You always look back, 20 years later, and I just think ‘that didn’t help your son’.”
Carragher then offered a stark assessment based on what he had seen.
“And those players… I’d say 70, 80 per cent of situations where the entourage or the parents are a nightmare to deal with, they never end up doing what they should do because of situations like this.”
Gabriel’s future at United remains unresolved. His father, Joe O’Cearuill, has been linked to the decision to seek an exit, although the reasons behind the breakdown between the family and club have not been established.
United are hoping the situation can be resolved and that JJ Gabriel remains at Old Trafford.
