Rio Ferdinand has urged Manchester United to stand firm over JJ Gabriel’s future, insisting the club cannot afford to look weak during the ongoing transfer saga surrounding the 15-year-old.
JJ Gabriel is widely regarded as one of the most highly-rated young players to come through United’s academy. However, his future has become uncertain after his camp requested that he be de-registered from the club.
Rio Ferdinand, who has watched Gabriel train, believes the teenager has enormous potential but says Manchester United must first understand exactly why he wants to leave.
“I don’t know where this kid’s ceiling is,” Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel. “I’ve seen him play, I’ve seen him train, I’ve listened to people who have coached him for a number of years and there’s no doubt this kid is going to the top.”
The former United defender also questioned whether Gabriel’s family feel he should already be getting first-team opportunities.
“Are they being impatient, are they thinking he should have got minutes already, were they promised stuff and now they’re disgruntled?” Ferdinand asked.
Gabriel has already attracted major attention outside Old Trafford. Chelsea have been identified as the leading English suitor, while Real Madrid and Barcelona have been in talks over the teenager. His camp have also been linked with a possible move to Europe, with Spain currently understood to be a likely destination.
Manchester United told not to weaken their position
Ferdinand accepts that there could be reasons behind Gabriel’s desire to leave, but believes United must be careful about how they handle the situation.
“But Manchester United can’t be seen to be bullied by a 15-year-old, no matter how good he is,” he said.
The comment comes as the club continues trying to convince JJ Gabriel to remain at Old Trafford. With his 16th birthday approaching on October 6, the situation could soon develop further.
Gabriel can sign a scholarship deal once he turns 16 and, because he reportedly holds an EU passport, can also move abroad between the ages of 16 and 18 under the rules applying to EU citizens.
What does the future hold for JJ Gabriel
That has increased the possibility of a move outside England, particularly with major European clubs already showing interest. Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig and Paris Saint-Germain have all made contact with his camp, while Epic Sports chief Ali Barat is expected to become Gabriel’s first agent once the youngster turns 16.
Ferdinand, though, believes the bigger issue for United goes beyond Gabriel himself. He warned that the way the club handles the situation could influence other academy players in the future.
“There will be other kids using this as a reference point so you can’t be seen to be weak as a football club,” he said.
At the same time, Ferdinand stressed that he does not know the full details behind Gabriel’s decision and would like to understand the reasons before making a final judgement.
United need to show Gabriel why his future can be at Old Trafford while also protecting the authority of the academy and the club’s long-term approach to developing young players.
