JJ Gabriel, a highly-touted 15-year-old player for Manchester United, has sensationally requested to leave the club. The formal submission of his request to terminate his contract has reportedly stunned the Red Devils' hierarchy, who were unaware of any significant discontent.
Gabriel, often referred to as 'Kid Messi,' recently became the youngest player in Manchester United history to score a hat-trick in the UEFA Youth League, achieving this feat against FK Sabah. Despite this recent success and his integration into first-team training sessions, the player has now informed club officials of his desire to depart.
Sources indicate that Gabriel was slated to be included in manager Michael Carrick's squad for the upcoming Carabao Cup game against Brighton. This potential inclusion now appears unlikely.
The situation presents a significant challenge for Manchester United, as they risk losing a highly promising young talent in European football. Director of football Jason Wilcox and head of negotiations Matt Hargreaves, who reportedly convinced Gabriel to stay last summer, are expected to be involved in attempting to resolve the situation again. They, along with Carrick, have closely monitored Gabriel's progress, noting his performances for the Under-21s this season, playing six age groups above his own.
Manchester United sources remain hopeful that the situation can be rectified, emphasizing that Gabriel cannot be de-registered from the squad and his current contract extends until the end of the season.
Eyebrows were raised earlier when Gabriel appeared to remove all photos from his Instagram account and erase any mention of Manchester United. While sources close to the player initially downplayed any significant discontent, it has now become clear that issues have been developing behind the scenes. Barcelona has reportedly been pursuing Gabriel for years, and the player holds an Irish passport, which would allow him to play in Europe once he turns 16.