Manchester United v Crystal Palace - FA Youth Cup
Gabriel is regarded as a future star (Picture: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Manchester United wonderkid JJ Gabriel has sensationally asked to leave the club.
The 15-year-old is regarded as one of the most exciting prospects in world football, the crown jewel of United’s academy who is nicknamed ‘Kid Messi’ after the Argentine superstar.
He is eligible to make his senior debut for United this season, potentially following in the footsteps of Arsenal starlet Max Dowman who made his first-team bow at 15 in August last year.
But Gabriel has stunned United by asking the club to cancel his registration and allow him to leave, the Daily Telegraph reports.
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United are yet to respond to the request but the report states the club do not regard the situation as ‘irretrievable’ with hope the situation can still be rectified.
Gabriel has issued formal notice that he wishes to cancel his registration with the club. While he does not have a new club lined up at this stage, United agreeing to his request would leave him free to join any one of the sides across Europe who have watched his development from afar.
Clubs cannot sign players to professional contracts until the age of 17 or scholarship agreements until they turn 16. Gabriel turns 16 on 6 October.
Gabriel scored 26 times in 29 appearances across the Under-18 Premier League and FA Youth Cup last season, frequently training with the first-team.
That thrilling form has continued this term, scoring a hat-trick in the Uefa Youth League victory over Sabah last week.
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‘The talent is there. Crazy talent,’ former United defender and academy graduate Wes Brown told Metro earlier this year.
‘It is about timing with JJ Gabriel. For United, it is about getting him in in at the right time where he can do well where he will be appreciated.
‘Watching Gabriel is, he is fearless, he is always trying to make something happen. The way he glides past players is unbelievable.’
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EDITORIAL USE ONLY No use with unauthorised audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. DataCo restrictions apply See www.football-dataco.com Mandatory Credit: Photo by Jamie Johnston/Focus Images Ltd/Shutterstock (17148203kc) Manager Mikel Arteta of Arsenal during the Premier League match at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland. 12/09/2026 Sunderland v Arsenal Premier League, the Stadium of Light, Tyne and Wear, UK - 12 Sep 2026