Bayern Munich enter race to sign 16-year-old JJ Gabriel as Man United resist exit

Bayern Munich have made a formal approach to sign JJ Gabriel from Manchester United, with the Bundesliga club holding a meeting with the teenager’s family in May, according to reports. The 16-year-old, who turned 16 this week, is at the centre of a growing transfer battle after his representatives submitted a request to leave Old Trafford.

Bayern head coach Vincent Kompany is said to be an admirer of Gabriel, and the club’s interest is described as “serious”. However, Bayern are reportedly unwilling to meet the player’s salary demands, which are understood to be in the seven-figure range.

Gabriel’s situation became public last month when it emerged that his camp wanted to terminate his contract at United. The club have refused to do so, meaning he cannot move to a domestic rival until his deal expires this summer. His EU passport, however, makes him eligible to join clubs on the continent now — a rule that does not apply to UK-born players until they turn 18.

The teenager’s representatives had sought a first-team debut in United’s Champions League fixture against Sabah, after the club had originally planned to hand him his bow against Brighton. His camp expressed a desire to leave on the eve of that Brighton match, accelerating the breakdown.

Gabriel has since been training in Castelldefels, in Barcelona’s vicinity, amid uncertainty over his future. Both Barcelona and Real Madrid have held talks about signing him, though Barcelona sporting director Deco has been cautious in his public comments, with both clubs aware of the sensitivity surrounding a move for a minor.

Gabriel scored a hat-trick in United’s Youth League win over Sabah, underlining the level of interest from Europe’s elite clubs. United are expected to offer him scholarship terms, which would affect the compensation any acquiring club must pay. FIFA regulations require the signing club to demonstrate it can fulfil obligations around football development, education, and welfare for players of his age.

A move to Europe is reported to be worth around £300,000 in compensation to United, a figure that contrasts sharply with the millions a domestic transfer could generate — Liverpool, for example, paid Chelsea more than £2 million for Rio Ngumoha following a tribunal ruling. Gabriel’s representatives are said to be confident they can navigate the regulatory hurdles involved in securing a move abroad.