JJ Gabriel opens talks with first club since Man Utd quit bombshell
Wantaway Manchester United star JJ Gabriel has landed in Spain to open talks with his first club since asking to leave the 20-time Premier League champions.
Gabriel, 15, who has been dubbed ‘Kid Messi’, reportedly informed United of his intention to leave on September 15.
The teenager sent the club a formal notice asking United to cancel his registration, allowing him to become a free agent amid interest from Europe’s biggest clubs, including Barcelona, Arsenal, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Currently, Gabriel cannot sign a professional contract under Premier League rules due to his age.
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The rules state that players can only sign professional contracts when they turn 17 and put pen to paper on scholarships when they turn 16. Gabriel turns 16 on October 6.
Despite Gabriel asking for his registration to be cancelled, United do have the ability to challenge this, with the rules stating: “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.”
While no final decision has been made on Gabriel’s future, it has been reported that he has now opened talks with La Liga giants Barcelona.
As reported by the Daily Mail, Gabriel flew to Catalonia on Friday (September 18) to begin discussions over a possible move.
Barca previously took the youngster on a tour of their training facilities in 2024, when he met fellow starlet Lamine Yamal, with the pair posing for a photograph together.
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English players are able to move abroad when they reach 18, but Gabriel could use his eligibility to obtain an Irish passport to circumvent the rules.
The teenager first joined United as an 11-year-old and is widely considered a potential generational talent, having won the 2025/26 Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award after netting over 20 times last term.
Michael Carrick addresses JJ Gabriel saga
Following United’s 3-2 home defeat to Brighton in the third round of the Carabao Cup, Carrick was pressed for his thoughts on Gabriel.
“I just think we’ve got to be really careful of the whole situation, you know,” 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.”
As expected, Carrick was asked about Gabriel once again during Friday’s press conference, to which he replied: “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 Sunday (September 20).
Topics: Premier League, Transfer News, Man Utd
Luke Davies