Manchester United prospect JJ Gabriel requested to leave the club last month after his camp made several demands, including first team training and a game time plan. The academy starlet recently celebrated his 16th birthday and could be set to leave United after asking to have his registration terminated.
While the Reds denied the request, Gabriel would be able to move abroad should he hold a European passport through either parent. United appeared to have mapped out a first team pathway for the teenage sensation, who looked set to become the club’s youngest-ever player.
United's efforts to keep Gabriel
United previously did everything they could to keep Gabriel, including meeting former first team boss Ruben Amorim last year and being introduced to Sir Alex Ferguson. The club told Gabriel he could become the future face of the club and he was regularly involved in training under Michael Carrick, featuring for the senior side during pre-season.
An official first team debut felt inevitable before Gabriel’s camp requested to leave United. The youngster has since been linked with several top European sides, though he is yet to officially move on. Here is a round-up of five demands that Gabriel’s team reportedly made in recent weeks.
Name and number on shirt
As he had already turned 15 before this year’s August cut-off date, Gabriel is eligible to play in the Premier League this season. He also could have featured for Carrick’s side in the Carabao Cup and Champions League but was left off the club’s A list in the latter competition, making him ineligible for the win over Sabah.
ESPN reports that United had accepted Gabriel’s request to be given the No.77 squad number this season. The Reds also asked the Premier League to allow the 16-year-old to have ‘Gabriel JR’ as the name on the back of his shirt.
Having won the U18 Premier League Player of the Season award last term, Gabriel started the new campaign by continuing his development within the club’s academy. While waiting for his senior debut, the attacking midfielder recorded two goals and two assists in two U21 appearances, also scoring a hat-trick for the U19s against Sabah in the UEFA Youth League.
First team training and game time plan
Gabriel was notably involved during pre-season and given his unofficial debut in a friendly with Atletico Madrid. However, Gabriel’s camp reportedly made it clear that a spot in first team training was expected.
Sky Sports reports that Gabriel was instructed by his family not to return to Carrington alongside the club’s other U21 players for the start of pre-season. The first team squad were due back a week later and heading back at the same time as other academy players was claimed to be beneath the teenage starlet.
The Manchester Evening News reported that Gabriel’s camp felt the rising star should play at least 20 minutes in United’s games against Sabah, Brighton and Bournemouth. Gabriel was ineligible to play against Sabah in the Champions League but had been widely expected to feature against Brighton in the Carabao Cup. Meanwhile, United are set to face Bournemouth in the Premier League on October 25.
It is understood that Gabriel’s representatives had identified the three games and wanted the 16-year-old to be given game time before beginning talks over a scholarship deal. He would have still become the club’s youngest-ever player in the Brighton cup tie but the request to end his registration was made ahead of the game, leading Gabriel to be left out of the matchday squad.
Salary demands
Gabriel could have signed a pre-contract agreement with United upon turning 16, with professional deals permitted after a player’s 17th birthday. However, Bayern Munich are among several sides, alongside Real Madrid and Barcelona, linked with the teenager following his request to leave Old Trafford.
The Times reports that the German side are interested in Gabriel but unwilling to meet the seven-figure salary demands. As United have refused to cancel Gabriel’s contract, he is not allowed to join another domestic club until next summer but could opt to head abroad if he holds a European passport.
