JJ Gabriel has turned down a move to Chelsea and is leaving Manchester United for a move abroad, according to reports. Gabriel, who turned 16 on October 6, informed United of his desire to leave last month and has not trained with the club since mid-September.
The 16-year-old is widely regarded as one of the most promising academy players in world football and is now eligible to sign a scholarship contract with United. However, Gabriel’s entourage are exploring alternative options and the young forward is not short of interest with several clubs across the Premier League and Europe in the running.
European giants in the race
According to talkSPORT, Chelsea are among the clubs who have explored the possibility of signing Gabriel, however, the Premier League side have been informed that the player will instead move to ‘a European giant’. The report adds that Real Madrid and Barcelona are the two clubs leading the race to sign Gabriel, although Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are also interested.
Meanwhile, Sky Sports reported on Tuesday that Gabriel’s camp have been annoyed by United’s refusal to meet their demands over the young forward’s pathway to the first-team squad. Gabriel has already trained with Michael Carrick’s squad on occasions and made an appearance against Atletico Madrid during pre-season, but is yet to make his senior debut for the club.
First-team pathway demands
It is claimed that Gabriel’s family requested that he played for at least 20 minutes against Sabah in the Champions League, Brighton in the FA Cup and Bournemouth in the Premier League last month. Gabriel was ineligible for United’s game against Sabah as he was not registered on the club’s A-list. Instead, Gabriel scored a hat-trick against the Azerbaijani side in the UEFA Youth League earlier that day.
The teenager is considered to be the most exceptional young talent to progress through United’s youth ranks in recent years and across the game at youth level, he is regarded as the best player in the country born in 2010. In addition to those Messi comparisons, his ability to effortlessly take the ball on the turn has seen him likened to Phil Foden, who progressed through the youth academy over the way at Manchester City. Under the guidance of United’s Under-18 boss Darren Fletcher, he has developed into a lethal goal scorer, with the skill and variety in his finishing heightening the expectation around him.
United’s stance and Carrick’s warning
Football is littered with stories of unique talents failing to make the step up to men’s football with some of United’s brightest young talents failing to make the grade. Angel Gomes, who currently holds the record of United’s youngest Premier League player in history, has carved out a decent career for himself in France having also been recognised at international level, but made just 10 more appearances for United after his debut. Shola Shoretire, the youngest player to represent the club in European competition, is currently playing for Greek outfit PAOK.
But the situation with Gabriel has felt very different. United hope the situation can still be rectified – but no matter how enormous the talent, the club cannot be seen being held to ransom by a schoolboy – or whoever is making decisions on his behalf. Barcelona’s interest in him has already been well-documented and the teenager holds an Irish passport through his dad, former Republic of Ireland international Joe O’Cearuill, meaning any move abroad would be free of any Brexit red tape.
‘I just think we’ve got to be really careful of the whole situation,’ Carrick said last month after it emerged that Gabriel had asked to leave United. ‘He’s a young boy, he’s 15 and the biggest [thing] for me definitely and as a club point of view is looking after our younger players. Their welfare, their wellbeing, their exposure. And I think all of us we’ve got to be really conscious of that, really, in this situation. As a club, for sure, we’re all involved in those conversations. I just think we’ve got to be very careful of that.’
