Man Utd decide JJ Gabriel’s future as talks with Barcelona heat up
Manchester United have reportedly made a decision about whether to accept JJ Gabriel’s request to end his registration with the club.
Earlier this week, Gabriel, who is just 15, told United that he wants to leave. Reports say he and his representatives feel disappointed with the club and believe they were promised a clear path to the first team, which hasn’t happened.
Several big European clubs are interested in the young player. Gabriel made his senior debut for United in a pre-season friendly against Atlético Madrid this summer.
Gabriel joined United when he was 11 and has been compared to Lionel Messi, with fans often calling him ‘Kid Messi’. On September 18, he traveled to Barcelona to start talks with the Catalan club.
Other top clubs like Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Manchester City have also shown interest. However, moving to another English club is unlikely due to Premier League rules.
Because of these rules, Gabriel can’t sign a professional contract yet — players have to be 17 to do that, and can only sign scholarships when they turn 16. Gabriel’s 16th birthday is October 6.
Even though Gabriel asked to cancel his registration, United can say no. The rules say: “Registration can only be cancelled if everyone agrees—the club, player, and parent/carer.” If they don’t agree, the Premier League can make a final decision.
It looks like United have said no to his request. According to the Manchester Evening News, the club wants to keep him and has refused to cancel the registration.
Gabriel’s current contract lasts until the end of the season. He might be able to move abroad after turning 16 if he has an EU passport, which could happen because of his father’s Irish background. Any move would still need FIFA’s approval.
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has spoken about the situation twice. After their 3-2 loss to Brighton in the Carabao Cup on September 16, he said:
“We need to be very careful here. JJ is only 15, and it’s important we look after our younger players—their health, well-being, and how much attention they get.”
He added: “It’s really about caring for JJ as a young person. He’s young, and while the situation is what it is, we should be careful about how much exposure he gets.”
Carrick was asked about the story again during a press conference on Friday. He said:
“He’s a young boy, and we need to be sensible. The attention and pressure should be handled carefully. The situation will work itself out, and making sure he’s okay is the most important thing.”
United will play their next game away at Fulham on September 20.