Manchester United prodigy JJ Gabriel has requested to leave the club -Credit:Ash Donelon, Manchester United via Getty Images Steven Railston & Tyrone Marshall Tue, October 6, 2026 at 9:56 PM UTC · 3 min read About Our Ads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Manchester United are expected to receive answers regarding JJ Gabriel's future now that the youngster has reached the age of 16.
Gabriel's birthday was on Tuesday, meaning that as an EU passport holder, he will be permitted to agree terms with a club within the European Union, subject to approval under FIFA's stringent regulations.
It is understood that a request to leave was submitted by Gabriel's representatives, who wanted the teenager to make his first-team debut against Sabah in the Champions League — a match for which he was not included in the squad United submitted to UEFA — as well as feature against Brighton and Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup and AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League, as per the Manchester Evening News .
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-Credit:Manchester United, Manchester United via Getty Images
United had intended to hand Gabriel his debut against Brighton, but his camp lodged a request to depart before that fixture. The then 15-year-old would have become the youngest player in United's history had he featured that evening.
Gabriel has been training in Castelldefels , Barcelona, over recent weeks as uncertainty surrounding his future has continued to linger. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona have held discussions regarding a move for Gabriel, despite Barcelona's sporting director Deco recently playing down his club's interest in the youngster.
Madrid and Barcelona are conscious of the sensitivity surrounding Gabriel's situation, given the regulations on signing Under-18 players, and the ongoing saga raises the prospect that United will consider pursuing their legal options.
Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain have also expressed interest in acquiring Gabriel, but should the teenager relocate overseas, United would only receive minimal training compensation for his academy tenure, likely ranging from £100,000 to £300,000 ($132,729-$398,189), with estimates in certain quarters suggesting approximately £250,000 ($331,821).
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Former West Bromwich Albion prospect Louie Barry departed the Hawthorns for Barcelona without a fee after FIFA determined that the Baggies hadn't presented the teenager with a scholarship agreement. United can extend such terms to Gabriel starting Tuesday and are anticipated to do so to satisfy compensation requirements.
The club securing Gabriel's registration must submit the application to FIFA and demonstrate its capacity to fulfill obligations concerning soccer development, educational provision, and the player's well-being, though such matters are considered routine, particularly given the stature of the clubs concerned.
It is understood that Gabriel's representatives wouldn't have pursued a transfer without confidence in navigating the administrative procedures.
Super agent Ali Barat is instrumental as Gabriel's team considers a departure. Barat, founder of Epic Sports, has become an influential figure in the agency landscape, having facilitated some of soccer's most significant transfers in recent years.
Source: Sport
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