Gabriel holds Bayern Munich talks as Scholes demands City titles stripped and medals awarded

JJ Gabriel, Manchester United’s 16-year-old forward, held talks with Bayern Munich on Monday over a potential move away from Old Trafford, with Sky Germany reporting the Bundesliga champions as the first club to open formal discussions with the teenager’s camp. Real Madrid, Barcelona, and PSG are also said to be monitoring his situation.

Gabriel asked to leave United last month in what the club considered a shock development, given the high regard in which they hold the youngster. His representatives had reportedly requested that he receive at least 20 minutes of playing time across United’s fixtures against Sabah, Brighton, and Bournemouth before any scholarship discussions could take place — a condition they claim was not met. Gabriel’s camp has described the situation as one of broken promises over playing time.

The saga arrives at a deeply uncomfortable moment for Michael Carrick’s side, who have won just one of their opening five Premier League games this season and were knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Brighton. United return to action on Saturday against Tottenham.

Elsewhere, United legend Paul Scholes has waded into the fallout from Manchester City’s guilty verdict on breaching Premier League financial rules across a nine-year period. Scholes argued that stripping City of titles won between 2009 and 2018 and retroactively awarding them to runners-up would be the appropriate punishment — and made clear he wants the personal rewards that would come with it.

City’s first Premier League title came in the 2011/12 season, when they pipped United on goal difference on the final day. Scholes, who played 17 games that campaign, posted on X: “Keep hearing ex-teammates say they want trophies taken off them, but they don’t want their medals… f that, I’m a greedy b***, I want my medal.”

The comment drew a response from Arsenal legend Martin Keown, who told talkSPORT that receiving a medal under such circumstances would feel “hollow”. Scholes, 51, would earn a 12th league title medal if the punishment were applied.