Manchester United have reportedly submitted a scholarship contract proposal to JJ Gabriel, despite the 16-year-old forward's representatives requesting his registration be cancelled. Gabriel turned 16 earlier this month and has not returned to Carrington since lodging his request to leave the club.
The promising forward has instead been training with a private coach in Spain for the last three weeks. Both Barcelona and Real Madrid have held talks regarding a prospective transfer, while Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are also monitoring developments closely.
United's legal stance and fee expectations
United are considering legal proceedings should the teenager leave, a scenario that now seems increasingly likely despite initial optimism that a middle ground might be reached. According to The Guardian, had United not submitted the scholarship offer, Gabriel could have joined another Premier League side without a fee in January.
Domestic competitors would now need to negotiate with United through standard channels. As is customary for transfers of the most sought-after academy prospects between English clubs, a Professional Football Compensation Committee tribunal establishes the fee should the two parties fail to reach agreement.
United would reportedly be seeking upwards of £3 million, alongside a 20 per cent sell-on clause. Should Gabriel relocate overseas, however, United would receive substantially less — roughly £350,000, according to official FIFA compensation rates for a Category I academy.
EU passport question and family background
English players are generally prohibited from transferring clubs before reaching 18, following Britain's exit from the European Union. Gabriel might feasibly complete such a transfer if he possesses an EU passport, although it is unclear whether he currently holds the required documentation.
His father, Joe O'Cearuill, represented the Republic of Ireland on two occasions, qualifying through his Irish mother, and also has Trinidadian heritage. Gabriel's mother has Cypriot ancestry, offering the teenager two potential routes to EU passports.
Barcelona's response to links
Barcelona sporting director Deco responded to rumours regarding Gabriel during the international break after the Catalan giants were linked with his signature.
The former Chelsea player said: "There's nothing to say about this boy, it's normal we always have players linked with us. There's a huge market for that, even when they [players] are young.
"We are not interested in any player in his situation. I am not sure what's happening, and if he's still a Manchester United player. We are not involved in that.
"First of all, we need to understand how the situation is before we try to do something, and to speak about young, teenage players, it is not our business."
