15-year-old 'Kid Messi' JJ Gabriel stuns Man United by requesting to leave Old Trafford

JJ Gabriel, the 15-year-old forward widely regarded as one of Manchester United’s most exciting academy prospects in years, has formally asked the club to cancel his registration, requesting to leave Old Trafford as a free agent.

United were caught off guard by the development. The club believe the situation can still be resolved and have not abandoned hope of persuading Gabriel to stay, but they remain unclear on what prompted the request. He had been set to feature in United’s Carabao Cup squad for Wednesday’s tie against Brighton — a match in which he was on course to become the club’s youngest ever competitive player.

Gabriel, nicknamed ‘Kid Messi’, first made headlines during pre-season when he became the youngest player to represent United in unofficial matches. His profile rose further last week when he scored a hat-trick in United’s UEFA Youth League victory over Sabah.

Head coach Michael Carrick has described Gabriel as “a really big talent”, while United’s record appearance maker Ryan Giggs went further, calling him “a generational talent” — rare praise that underlines just how highly the teenager is regarded within the club.

The England Under-17 international has already collected significant individual honours despite his age. Last year he became the youngest ever winner of the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award, presented to United’s best academy footballer, and was also named Under-18 Premier League Player of the Season.

The news will come as a significant blow to United’s long-term planning. The club has invested heavily in its academy in recent years, and Gabriel had been considered a cornerstone of that project — a player expected to follow the path from youth football to the first team that has defined United’s identity for decades. Whether the club can resolve the situation before Gabriel’s registration is formally cancelled remains to be seen.