Manchester United are still hopeful the JJ Gabriel exit situation can be resolved, after the teenage forward told the club last month that he wants to leave, according to the Manchester Evening News. United were said to be surprised by the decision.
The timing could hardly have been worse. Gabriel was due to feature against Brighton in the Carabao Cup before news of his wish to depart emerged, the report adds, catching the club off guard at a sensitive moment.
Carrick demands patience on the JJ Gabriel exit talks
According to the Manchester Evening News, Gabriel cannot be deregistered from United without mutual consent from everyone involved. That rule is a big part of why the club still believes the situation can be worked out, given he has time left on his contract.
Michael Carrick earlier addressed the matter and asked for patience.
“I’ll just repeat what I said [earlier this week]: he’s a young boy, it’s important we don’t put anything out here, the exposure and scrutiny we have to be careful. We have to be sensible and think about him. The situation will work itself out,” Carrick said.
The same report states that, if Gabriel does go, he would cancel his registration with United. That route remains open to him, though the club clearly hope he chooses a different path.
Latest on the JJ Gabriel saga
Gabriel came through United’s academy and had been pushed firmly into the first-team picture. Had he come off the bench against Brighton, he would have become the club’s youngest-ever player, which tells you plenty about how highly United rate him.
We’ve watched United fast-track academy talent before, and Gabriel’s rise looked like the next chapter in that story. His most recent outing came in a 5-0 win over Sabah in the UEFA Youth League last month. Fans curious about the club’s wider youth pipeline can read our piece on United youngsters in Europe.
Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are reportedly interested in signing him, the Manchester Evening News says, a sign of how highly he’s already rated at just 15. None of that interest has turned into a confirmed approach.
What Happens Next for JJ Gabriel
Gabriel turns 16 next week, a date that could prove decisive in the JJ Gabriel exit saga. From that point, his Irish passport means he can legally enter negotiations with clubs abroad, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Nothing is finalised yet. Gabriel remains under contract, deregistration needs agreement from both sides, and United are choosing their words carefully, as Carrick’s comments make clear. Supporters following the club’s wider transfer business can check our transfer watch coverage, while the full detail on Gabriel’s situation comes from the original MEN report.
