JJ Gabriel's dad played for two current Premier League clubs amid Man Utd exit rumours
JJ Gabriel's father, Joe O'Cearuill, was on the books of two current Premier League clubs during his playing career - including Arsenal.
Gabriel, 15, has reportedly asked to leave United and have his contract de-registered, which would allow him to sign for another club.
He is said to be unhappy with his development and lack of opportunities at Old Trafford, though was said to be in line to make his debut in Wednesday's Carabao Cup fourth-round tie against Brighton and Hove Albion. His father, as a former youth prospect himself, knows all about United's opponents.
JJ Gabriel's father is former Arsenal defender
O'Cearuill, who was born in London but represented the Republic of Ireland twice at senior international level, came through the youth academies of Leyton Orient and Watford but was released by both clubs.
However, the centre-back caught the eye of Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger after going on trial with the club's reserve team; the Gunners signed him to a professional contract in the summer of 2006.
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O'Cearuill was a substitute for the retiring Dennis Bergkamp's testimonial, in what was the first game played at the Emirates Stadium.
He never represented Arsenal's senior squad competitively, though he continued to play for the under-21s and was named on the bench for a League Cup tie against West Brom in October 2006.
He joined Brighton on an initial one-month loan during the second half of the 2006/07 season, and impressed sufficiently for the then League One side to extend it by a further month.
Sky Sports reported that O'Cearuill had 'impressed at both right-back and centre-half' during his time at Brighton, who eventuallly finished 18th in the third tier of English football.
He went on to sign for Barnet, then of League Two, in the summer of 2007. Appearances for the Republic of Ireland age-group teams would follow; O'Cearuill featured for the U21s in a 3-0 defeat to an England side that contained Theo Walcott, James Milner and Joe Hart in early 2008.
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Shortly before he left Arsenal, the defender played twice for the Republic of Ireland senior team, in friendlies against Ecuador and Bolivia during a tour of the United States.
O'Cearuill spent the 2008/09 season at Irish Premier Division club St Patrick's Athletic, before dropping into non-league football back in England. He played for Forest Green Rovers, Haringey Borough (three spells), Boreham Wood and Dover Athletic among others.
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His last listed stint at any club is back in 2016 at Haringey Borough, who were playing in the Isthmian League Division One North - Step 3 of England's non-league system - at the time.
O'Cearuill, who turns 40 in February, is now JJ Gabriel's agent, with the United youngster set to likely have his pick of European clubs if he does follow through with his desire to leave Old Trafford.
The Athletic report that Real Madrid feel they are 'well-positioned' to sign him, while Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are also believed to be interested. The Telegraph, who broke the news that Gabriel wanted to leave United, claim that he would not move to another club 'straight away'.
As his agent, his father may play a key role in what exactly the 15-year-old decides to do next - although United face an uphill task to ensure his next steps take place in the red half of Manchester.
Topics: Man Utd, Arsenal, Brighton And Hove Albion, Premier League
Ryan Smart