Barcelona and Real Madrid circle as United fear 15-year-old Gabriel could exploit passport loophole

Manchester United face the prospect of losing 15-year-old prodigy JJ Gabriel to a European club as early as next month, after the teenager refused to train this week and his representatives told club officials he wanted to leave with immediate effect.

Gabriel, who had been on the verge of becoming United’s youngest-ever first-team player, asked the club to tear up his registration — something insiders insist they are unable to do. The situation has escalated rapidly, leaving United uncertain about their legal position and their ability to keep him.

The apparent trigger was Gabriel being omitted from United’s Champions League squad for last Thursday’s match against Azerbaijani side Sabah. Because he is under 16, UEFA rules required him to be listed on the ‘A’ squad to be eligible, and he was not included. Instead, he was named in the UEFA Youth League squad and responded by scoring a hat-trick at Leigh Sports Village. He had also been told he would feature in the matchday squad for the Carabao Cup tie against Brighton — an opportunity he forfeited by refusing to report for training.

The central concern at Old Trafford is a potential regulatory loophole. Gabriel holds an Irish passport, which means he qualifies as an EU citizen. Under current rules, he cannot move to another Premier League club until the end of the season, but he may be free to sign for a club on the continent when he turns 16 on October 6 — a move that would require FIFA approval. The club is now investigating whether it has any legal recourse to prevent that from happening.

Barcelona have made a concerted effort to attract Gabriel and his family, while Chelsea are also keen to bring the London-born youngster back to the capital. Real Madrid have been credited with an interest as well.

Despite the turbulence, United have not given up hope of keeping him. High-level talks are ongoing, and not everyone in the game believes he will ultimately leave. One club considered a potential destination reportedly expects the saga to end with Gabriel signing a scholarship contract at Old Trafford — the terms of which he would become eligible to agree on his 16th birthday, the same date the loophole could theoretically be triggered.

Gabriel has trained under first-team manager Ruben Amorim and coach Michael Carrick, and the club maintains it has shown him a credible pathway to senior football. He made only eight minutes of appearances across six pre-season games and has yet to feature in a Premier League matchday squad this season, though that is not considered unusual for a player of his age.