Rooney reveals Man United 'did everything' to keep teenage star JJ Gabriel amid Barcelona talks

Wayne Rooney has disclosed that Manchester United were aware of JJ Gabriel’s desire to leave the club long before the 15-year-old’s potential departure became public, with Gabriel and his family having flown to Barcelona to hold talks over a possible move.

Speaking on Disney+’s Stick to United, Rooney said the club had gone to considerable lengths to retain the highly-rated forward. “I think that anyone close to it knew that was coming,” the United legend said. “In fairness to Manchester United, they’ve done everything, they’ve done absolutely everything to keep him, to keep him at the club.”

Rooney drew on his own experience as a teenage prodigy at Everton to explain the dynamic at play. “I think it’s been known that there’s been a desire to go and play probably in Spain,” he said. “The club have treated him probably differently to the other players because he is such a special talent. I know, I recognise, I understand that because I was that player at Everton — you’re getting a bit more, your parents get given stuff, you’re getting that special treatment more than the other players are getting. Which as a club you need to do to try and keep your better players.”

Rooney added that while the situation is disappointing, the door may not be entirely closed. “It’s just disappointing, of course, because he is such a top player and he’s a lovely kid. So you never know whether it’s gone too far and whether there is a chance to stay. But I think everyone close to it has probably known that that was going to come.”

Gabriel had been expected to feature in United’s first-team squad for the Carabao Cup fixture against Brighton before the news broke. The teenager has been one of the standout performers in United’s academy, scoring 29 goals and registering four assists in 32 Under-18 appearances, and has also contributed two goals and two assists in just two outings for the Under-21s.

United manager Michael Carrick was measured in his public response, prioritising the player’s welfare over any transfer specifics. “He’s a young boy, JJ, and I think it’s important that we certainly don’t play anything out here,” Carrick said. “The exposure and the scrutiny and everything, you’ve got to be careful and be sensible and think of him as much as anything. So the situation will work itself out, whatever way it’s going to work itself out. Making sure he’s okay is the important thing.”