Manchester United are reportedly considering legal action should JJ Gabriel depart the club. The teenager has informed United of his desire to terminate his registration with immediate effect in order to become a free agent.
United caught off guard
United were taken aback by Gabriel's decision, with the youngster having been earmarked for inclusion in the Carabao Cup squad to face Brighton last month. Had he appeared, the teenage prodigy would have become the club's youngest-ever player, surpassing David Gaskell, who was 16 years and 19 days old when he made his debut in 1956.
United remain confident the matter can be resolved, with Gabriel still having time remaining on his contract. The 2010-born sensation cannot be de-registered without mutual agreement from all parties, though he will be eligible to negotiate a transfer abroad upon turning 16 next week, facilitated by his possession of an Irish passport.
Clubs circling
Should he ultimately move overseas, United would only receive a modest compensation fee, with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich amongst the clubs reportedly keen on securing Gabriel's signature. The Sun have reported that United are considering launching regulatory and potentially legal proceedings against any party who may negotiate and facilitate the England youth international's departure from Old Trafford.
Gabriel's representative Ali Barat obtained clearance from the Football Association (FA) to act on behalf of minors following revelations that the gifted midfielder wished to leave United. Epic Sports, Barat's agency, orchestrated Denzel Dumfries' switch to Real Madrid and Nicolas Jackson's move to Aston Villa during the summer window, and have subsequently arranged discussions with Los Blancos and Bayern on Gabriel's behalf.
Training abroad and calls for caution
Gabriel has been conducting training sessions overseas this week following his indication that he cannot envisage remaining at United. He has been working at the same Barcelona facility where he previously trained ahead of pre-season.
While the speculation around Gabriel's future continues to intensify, Michael Carrick called for restraint when questioned about the midfielder last month. He said: "I'll just repeat what I said: 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."
Gabriel's most recent outing for United came during a 5-0 victory over Sabah in the UEFA Youth League last month.
