Surprise news about JJ Gabriel and Barcelona pops up just hours before Man Utd vs Fulham game
Fabrizio Romano has shared a surprising update about Manchester United’s young talent JJ Gabriel, who wants to leave the club.
This week, 15-year-old Gabriel told United he wants to leave and asked to cancel his registration. It seems his representatives are unhappy and feel the club didn’t keep promises about getting him into the first team. Gabriel made his first senior appearance in a pre-season friendly against Atlético Madrid and has been linked with big clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, PSG, and Manchester City. If he leaves, Barcelona and Real Madrid look like the top choices.
On Friday (September 18), Gabriel and his team went to Barcelona for talks, even though reports said Real Madrid were the frontrunners. But Fabrizio Romano cleared things up on his YouTube channel, saying Gabriel himself hasn’t had direct talks with Barcelona. Instead, his family and representatives are speaking with several clubs, mainly in Spain, but also others.
Romano said, “JJ Gabriel didn’t fly to Barcelona to personally negotiate or sign. His team is in discussions, but the player is waiting to see which club is best for his future. I’ll share more updates soon, but he’s not yet close to signing anything.”
Gabriel, nicknamed ‘Kid Messi,’ can’t sign a pro contract until he’s 17 because of Premier League rules. He can sign a scholarship when he turns 16 on October 6. United has refused his request to cancel his registration, and rules say all parties must agree to cancel it. If they disagree, the Premier League can step in to decide.
Right now, Gabriel can’t sign with another Premier League club, but he might still join a European team because he has an Irish/EU passport. Any move would need FIFA’s approval.
Manchester United’s coach has been asked about this a lot recently. He stresses that taking care of Gabriel’s well-being is the top priority and that everyone should be careful with how they handle the situation. After a Carabao Cup loss to Brighton, he said, “He’s only 15, and we have to look after his welfare, well-being, and exposure. We need to be careful.”
On Friday, the coach gave a similar message, saying, “He’s a young boy, and we shouldn’t create too much fuss. We have to protect him and let things work out naturally.”
Manchester United will next play away at Fulham on September 20.