Man Utd might get another setback if JJ Gabriel turns down moves to Man City or Arsenal.
Manchester United could face another challenge if young JJ Gabriel, 15, decides to leave the club. The Telegraph shared that Gabriel and his team want to cancel his registration at Old Trafford because they are unhappy with his progress and the chances he’s getting with the first team.
Gabriel might be able to join a European club once he turns 16, thanks to his dual nationality. His dad, Joe O’Cearuill, used to play for Arsenal and Brighton and represented the Republic of Ireland, while his mum is Greek Cypriot. However, the club Gabriel chooses will affect how much United get in compensation.
Despite Gabriel’s clear wish to leave, United are still hoping to convince him to stay. He was expected to make his first start in the recent Carabao Cup match against Brighton, but he didn’t make the squad. Right now, he can’t play in the Premier League, but that changes on October 6 when he turns 16.
Chelsea can’t sign him until December because of a ban on signing youth players following rules broken under Roman Abramovich’s ownership. But clubs like Manchester City and Arsenal are reportedly interested in Gabriel.
This interest causes more worries for United. The Daily Mail says if Gabriel chooses to move abroad instead of joining a club in England, United’s compensation fee would be smaller. If he moves to top clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, or Bayern Munich, United might only receive about £300,000 in training fees.
According to FIFA rules, training compensation is paid when a player signs their first professional deal, which Gabriel can do at 17 (he can sign a scholarship deal at 16). This fee applies whether the player stays in the same country or moves abroad and continues until the player turns 23.
The amount paid depends on the training costs in the country of the new club. It’s unclear how much United would get if Gabriel moves to another English team. For example, when Liverpool signed Harvey Elliott from Fulham in 2019, they had to pay a fee that could have been as high as £4 million, plus a 20% sell-on clause for Fulham.
So, United are hoping they can keep Gabriel, but if he leaves, the club could face some tricky situations ahead.