Manchester United prodigy JJ Gabriel has reportedly told the club he wants to leave in a stunning development.
The request comes less than a week after the 15-year-old made history by scoring a hat-trick against FK Sabah in the UEFA Youth League, becoming the youngest Manchester United player ever to achieve the feat.
Daily Mail Sport understands that Manchester United’s senior figures have been taken aback by Gabriel’s decision. The club are believed to be unclear about what prompted it, particularly as the teenager has featured prominently in plans around first-team training.
Gabriel had also been expected to be named in Michael Carrick’s squad for Wednesday evening’s Carabao Cup tie with Brighton. That prospect now appears unlikely to go ahead.
The situation represents a significant challenge for United, who will be desperate to keep hold of a player widely regarded as one of Europe’s standout emerging talents.
Director of football Jason Wilcox and head of negotiations Matt Hargreaves stepped in last summer when Gabriel considered a possible departure, persuading him that Old Trafford offered a clear path to becoming the club’s youngest-ever first-team player.
Manchester United teenage sensation JJ Gabriel, 15, has reportedly requested to leave the club
Gabriel, known as ‘Kid Messi’, struck a UEFA Youth League hat-trick last week
Wilcox and Hargreaves are expected to become involved once more, alongside Carrick. All three have closely monitored Gabriel at Leigh Sports Village this season, where the 15-year-old has excelled while playing six age groups above his level for the Under-21s.
Sources at United believe the matter may yet be resolved. Although Gabriel has made his wishes known, he cannot be removed from the registered squad and remains under contract until the end of the season.
Eyebrows were raised when it appeared Gabriel had wiped his Instagram account of all its photos and took out all mentions of Manchester United.
Sources close to the player were quick to play down talk of discontent but it has now transpired that an explosive episode has been brewing behind the scenes, with Barcelona having spent years pursuing him, given he can leave the UK at 16 due to holding an Irish passport, allowing him to play in Europe.
Only days ago after scoring the European hat-trick Gabriel’s boss at youth level Adam Lawrence, who leads the Under-19s and the Under-21s, spoke about coaching a player like Gabriel.
‘I think the first thing in my job is not to ruin him,’ Lawrence said.
ALSO READ: Five Men Jailed for Holding Migrants’ Passports in Debt Bondage
‘So when you have a talented player like JJ and the other lads of course, you obviously don’t want to stifle their freedom and their creativity. And I think essentially what you try and do is to set the team up to allow the talent to function and to play free at the right moments.
‘Of course, it can’t always be free and off the cuff in terms of some of the off-the-ball responsibilities that he’s working on and some of the pressing things that he’s thinking about. But again, in terms of how he plays properly and how he connects with other team-mates at the top end of the pitch, he’s just in a real good space.
‘If you look at that game today, I think he’s playing properly. I think he’s trying to do the right things.
‘It’s enjoyable working with him and challenging as a coach because the best players challenge you. When you work with talented players you have to find a way to help them and allow them to flourish and keep improving. Of course, there are things that you can keep working on but he is of course in a real good place.’
The move has left United shocked and is a significant blow given how highly rated Gabriel is
Asked about the people advising him, Lawrence was insistent those around him have the player’s best interests at heart.
‘With JJ, he’s surrounded by people that really believe in him,’ Lawrence added.
‘From the top of the club right the way through. Where he’s been at the club for so long, he’s got good relationships with the players, with the staff.
‘Over the course of time that helps as well. At the moment just in terms of his game, his games programme, his training programme, making sure that he’s getting the right exposure across different levels.
‘We’re obviously not perfect but it’s definitely something we put a lot of thought into. So yeah, it’s good to see him just enjoying his football and in a good place for sure.’
But those comments come as scant consolation to supporters now with Gabriel determined to seek pastures new, particularly when a first team debut had long been earmarked for this week.
- READ MORE: NATHAN SALT’s special report on the teen nicknamed ‘Kid Messi’