Sesko injury relapse forces Slovenia withdrawal as Gabriel eyes Real Madrid or Barcelona exit

Manchester United face a disrupted international break after striker Benjamin Sesko withdrew from the Slovenia squad with a shin injury relapse, compounding a difficult start to the season that has left the club 12th in the Premier League after winning just one of their opening six matches in all competitions.

Sesko, 23, was absent from United’s draw with Fulham at the weekend and confirmed his withdrawal from international duty in a statement on Tuesday. “I am very sorry that I will have to miss the national team’s upcoming matches,” the striker wrote, adding that he is working hard to return to the pitch. The recurrence of his shin problem is a significant setback for a player United will be counting on as the season progresses.

Off the pitch, the situation surrounding academy prospect JJ Gabriel continues to develop. The 15-year-old sent shockwaves through Old Trafford last week when he requested to be deregistered from the club, signalling a desire to leave. According to Spanish outlet Sport, Gabriel’s shortlist of potential destinations includes four clubs — Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain — with Spain understood to be his preferred destination.

Gabriel has enlisted agent Ali Barat to represent him as his attempts to engineer a departure escalate. The intermediary is reported to have established links to Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, which could prove influential in determining where the teenager ends up.

Despite the request, Gabriel remains registered with United for the remainder of the season and cannot be deregistered at this stage. The club believe the matter can still be resolved. Gabriel is just weeks away from turning 16 on 6 October, at which point he becomes eligible to sign a scholarship with United, though he would need to wait until his 17th birthday before signing a professional contract.

United’s difficult opening to the campaign under Michael Carrick has included defeats to Manchester City, Hull, and Brighton, with a late Matheus Cunha goal needed to salvage a point against Fulham on Sunday. The momentum built in the second half of last season has largely evaporated, and Carrick faces mounting pressure to turn results around when club football resumes after the international break.