Unexpected JJ Gabriel to Barcelona update emerges hours before Man Utd vs Fulham
Fabrizio Romano has dropped an unexpected update on the future of wantaway Manchester United youngster JJ Gabriel.
It first emerged that Gabriel, 15, had informed United of his intention to leave earlier this week, with the teenager requesting that his registration be scrapped. It was widely reported that the player’s representatives were unhappy with the club and felt let down, believing promises of a pathway to the first team had not been kept.
The teenager, who made his first senior appearance for United during a pre-season friendly against Atlético Madrid, has previously been linked with several huge clubs, including Arsenal, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, while it appears Barcelona and Real Madrid are the most likely to sign him should he leave United.
Advert
On Friday (September 18), the player and his representatives arrived in Barcelona to hold talks with the Catalan club, despite contrary reports that Real Madrid were the frontrunners to acquire his signature.
Major JJ Gabriel to Barcelona update drops
Now, journalist Fabrizio Romano has clarified the situation, insisting that Gabriel is not directly involved in talks over a move to Barca.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, he said: “My information is that JJ Gabriel has not held direct talks with Barcelona in person.
“The camp of JJ Gabriel are having conversations with clubs.
“I told you in all my videos this week that Real Madrid, Barcelona and more clubs. Spain is more than likely, but there are other clubs in the race.
“This is the situation, it’s not that JJ Gabriel travelled to Barcelona to negotiate directly with Barca, personally with Barca, or to sign with Barca.
“That’s not the case. They are talking, the camp of the player, his family, his representatives, to discuss about the future.
“Conversations, talks, but it’s not the player flying to talk to Barcelona because otherwise it looks like first of all that the player is directly involved, and at the moment, not yet, we’re not at that stage.
“And also, at the moment the player is waiting to understand which club is going to be the best solution for his future.
“I will tell you more on JJ Gabriel in the next days, but we’re not yet at the stage of the player travelling to close the deal, not yet.”
Gabriel, nicknamed ‘Kid Messi’, cannot currently sign a professional contract until he is 17 under Premier League rules. The youngster can put pen to paper on a scholarship when he turns 16 on October 6.
United have reportedly rejected Gabriel’s request to terminate his registration. As per Premier League rules: “During your child’s registration period, their registration may only be cancelled if everyone agrees (the club, player and their parent/carer).”
The rules add: “If the parties don’t agree, then any person involved can also ask the Premier League to provide a binding decision on a termination request.”
The starlet is effectively blocked from signing for another Premier League club, although he could still sign for a European side due to his Irish/EU passport.
READ NEXT: Roy Keane gives brutally honest verdict on Man Utd/JJ Gabriel saga
Any move would still be subject to FIFA approval.
What has Michael Carrick said about JJ Gabriel?
As expected, over the course of the last week, the Man United head coach has been pressed on the matter several times.
The Englishman has been keen to highlight how the player’s welfare is a priority while insisting that everyone involved needs to “be careful”.
Speaking after United’s 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton, he said: “He’s a young boy, he’s 15, and for me, definitely, and from a club point of view, is looking after our younger players, their welfare, their well-being, their exposure, and I think we’ve got to be really, all of us, I think we’ve got to be really conscious of that, really, in this situation.”
He added: “It’s more about the welfare, the care and the attention of JJ as a child, really.
“He’s certainly a young man.
“The situation is what it is, but we have to be careful about the exposure on that one.”
On Friday, Carrick was asked for his thoughts again and provided a similar stance, explaining: “He’s a young boy, it’s important we don’t play anything out here.
“The exposure and scrutiny, we have to be careful, be sensible and think of him as much as anything. The situation will work itself out. Making sure he’s OK is an important thing.”
United return to action away at Fulham on September 20.
Topics: Fabrizio Romano, Premier League, Real Madrid, Man Utd
Luke Davies