Jordan warns 15-year-old Gabriel that Real Madrid move would derail his career

Simon Jordan has delivered a blunt warning to JJ Gabriel, insisting the 15-year-old Manchester United prospect would be making a career-damaging mistake by pursuing a move to Real Madrid amid an ongoing standoff with the club.

Gabriel had been in line for his first senior competitive appearance for United on Wednesday, but was absent from the squad for their 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton after it emerged that his camp had requested his departure from Old Trafford. Real Madrid have been among the clubs linked with the teenager should he leave as a free agent.

Jordan, speaking on talkSPORT, questioned the logic of the move in stark terms. “Good luck with the career opportunity of going to Real Madrid at 16 years of age and getting in front of Vinicius and [Kylian] Mbappe, players of that nature,” he said. “There’s no way this kid is going to be better off at Madrid than Manchester United.”

The former Crystal Palace owner directed much of his criticism at those advising Gabriel, suggesting the push to leave United reflects the interests of agents and parents rather than the player himself. “This, to me, is an example of the polar opposite of how the kid should be handled,” Jordan said, contrasting Gabriel’s situation with the carefully managed early careers of Max Dowman and Jude Bellingham. “This reads like overreach for vicarious reasons by parents. And of course, we know the reasons why agents would be in the mix for this.”

Gabriel had caught the eye just days earlier, scoring a hat-trick on his UEFA Youth League debut for United’s Under-19s last Thursday — a performance that had prompted the club to consider fast-tracking him into the senior setup.

United manager Michael Carrick confirmed after the Brighton defeat that talks with Gabriel and his advisors were continuing, but was careful to keep the focus on the teenager’s welfare rather than the football politics surrounding the situation. “He’s a young boy, he’s 15, and the biggest thing for me — and from a club point of view — is looking after our younger players,” Carrick said. “Their welfare, their wellbeing, their exposure. We’ve got to be very careful of that.”