United reject de-registration request as 15-year-old Gabriel holds Barcelona talks

Manchester United have rejected a formal request from JJ Gabriel’s camp to cancel his registration at the club, but the 15-year-old academy forward is in Spain holding talks with Barcelona and could also meet Real Madrid as he edges closer to an Old Trafford exit.

Gabriel’s representatives submitted the de-registration request this week, which United turned down as the club continues to push for the youngster to stay. That effort appears increasingly unlikely to succeed, with Gabriel and his entourage now in Barcelona and a transfer as early as next month looking probable.

Although Gabriel remains under contract at United until the end of this season, a FIFA loophole allows him to move abroad after turning 16 — which he does on 6 October — provided he holds an EU passport. He may qualify through his father’s Irish connections or his mother’s Cypriot background, and reports in Spain suggest he is set to obtain the relevant documentation next week. Any move would still require FIFA approval, but United could be powerless to block it. The club can offer Gabriel scholarship terms from his 16th birthday, and while he now appears certain to leave, that process should at least secure them modest compensation.

United were reportedly stunned by the request. Gabriel has not been at the club’s Carrington training ground since scoring a hat-trick against Sabah in the UEFA Youth League last Thursday. He had been due to train with the first team ahead of a potential inclusion in the squad to face Brighton on Wednesday — a match in which he could have become the club’s youngest-ever player.

Gabriel’s camp believes promises of senior involvement have not been honoured. He played just eight minutes of first-team football during pre-season and was omitted from United’s Champions League squad, leaving him ineligible to feature against Sabah last week.

Manager Michael Carrick addressed the situation in his press conference ahead of the Fulham fixture, but declined to go into specifics, citing the duty of care owed to the teenager.

“I think he’s a young boy, JJ, and I think it’s important that we certainly don’t put anything out here,” Carrick said. “The exposure and the scrutiny — you’ve got to be careful and be sensible and think of him as much as anything. The situation will work itself out, whatever way it’s going to work itself out. Making sure he’s okay is the important thing.”