Majority of Manchester United fans back letting 15-year-old Gabriel leave after transfer request

Sixty-one per cent of Manchester United supporters who responded to a fan poll believe the club should allow 15-year-old academy prospect JJ Gabriel to leave, following the teenager’s formal request to depart Old Trafford last week.

The poll drew 3,516 responses, with 39 per cent arguing United should retain Gabriel on the grounds that he is destined to become a star. The split verdict reflects the uncertainty surrounding a situation that caught United’s hierarchy off guard when the request was submitted.

Gabriel’s camp has cited broken promises over first-team pathways as the driving force behind the move. The teenager played just eight minutes during pre-season and was unable to be named in United’s Champions League squad for their opener against Sabah because he had not yet been added to the club’s A list. He would, however, have been eligible for the B list for the second group game against Atlético Madrid, having turned 16 on 6 October — a milestone that also opens a legal route for him to negotiate an exit abroad, given he holds an Irish passport.

United had been set to name Gabriel in their Carabao Cup squad for the midweek fixture against Brighton, a selection that would have made him the club’s youngest-ever player had he come off the bench. That prospect has now been complicated by the ongoing stand-off.

The club still believes the situation can be resolved, pointing to the remaining time on his contract. Gabriel cannot be formally deregistered, but Real Madrid are understood to be carefully managing their interest, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Chelsea also monitoring developments. United would receive a modest compensation fee should he move abroad.

Former United captain Michael Carrick, asked about Gabriel in the aftermath of the Brighton defeat, confirmed he had been involved in discussions about the youngster’s future but urged restraint from the media, stressing that Gabriel remains a child and should be treated as such.