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Manchester United teenage sensation JJ Gabriel has reportedly asked to leave the Premier League giants, sending shockwaves through the football world.
According to The Telegraph, the 15-year-old prodigy has unexpectedly sought to quit United in a move labelled almost “unprecedented”.
In the report, it adds that Gabriel – one of the biggest talents in world football – “has sent a formal notice that he wishes to cancel his registration at the club with immediate effect to become a free agent”.
The wonderkid – nicknamed ‘Kid Messi’ – has played for United since the age of 11, and he is yet to make a competitive senior appearance for the Red Devils.
Clubs cannot sign players to professional contracts until the age of 17 or scholarship agreements until they turn 16. Gabriel does not celebrated his 16th birthday until October 6.
United – who had planned to include Gabriel in the first-team squad for their EFL Cup fixture against Brighton and Hove Albion on Thursday (AEST) – can challenge the player’s request to cancel his registration.
The situation, though, is not viewed as “irretrievable” yet according to reports.
Gabriel was named the Premier League Under-17 Player of the Season in May and has already scored twice for United’s U21s in Premier League 2 this season.
He made his senior debut for United in pre-season, while he scored a hat-trick on his UEFA Youth League bow against Sabah last week.
“JJ is surrounded by people that really, really believe in him from the top of the club right the way through,” United’s professional development phase lead Adam Lawrence said of Gabriel last week.
“He’s been at the club for so long. He’s got real good relationships with the players, with the staff, so I think over the course of time obviously that helps as well.
“At the moment, just in terms of his game, his games programme, his training programme, it’s about making sure that he’s getting the right exposure across different levels.
“We’re obviously not perfect but it’s definitely something we put a lot of thought into, so it’s good to see him enjoying his football in a good place.”