Manchester United are at risk of losing their most promising academy star after JJ Gabriel lodged a request for the club to de-register him prior to their loss against Brighton
JJ Gabriel of Manchester United
JJ Gabriel wants out of Manchester United(Image: Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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Michael Carrick has stressed that people need to be mindful of JJ Gabriel's age following reports the Manchester United prodigy has asked to leave the club.
Gabriel, 15, has been billed as the next big thing at Old Trafford after making a seismic impression among the academy ranks. It has even been suggested that the teenager was in line to make his senior debut in Wednesday night's Carabao Cup defeat against Brighton prior to Gabriel expressing a desire to quit the club.
United are understood to have been taken aback by Gabriel's request, with the bombshell news quickly making headlines given the youngster's significant potential.
Carrick gave little away about the situation after the Brighton loss and outlined why Gabriel's age means things must be handled delicately.
"We have to be a little bit careful on that one. He's a 15-year-old boy," said the United manager. "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 and how much we jump on that."
When he was asked if he was involved in the discussions around Gabriel's future, Carrick added: "As a club, for sure, we're all involved in those conversations. I just think we've got to be very careful of that."
Barcelona and Real Madrid are two of the juggernauts understood to be keeping a close eye on developments with Gabriel, who is eligible to sign scholarship forms following his 16th birthday on October 6.
JJ Gabriel
Gabriel is already being linked with a host of big clubs(Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag)
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The attacker, who scored a hat-trick on his debut for the Under-19s in the UEFA Youth League just last week, has an Irish passport which would allow him to move overseas.
Despite Gabriel's request to be de-registered immediately, Manchester United are said to harbour some hope that the situation can be resolved amicably without the talented teenager's departure.
Gabriel was named Under-18 Premier League player of the year last season despite being just 14 when the campaign started and would have become United's youngest ever player had he made his senior bow on Wednesday night.
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