Manchester United risk losing a promising young talent in JJ Gabriel and Roy Keane has now delivered his verdict on the situation
Roy Keane speaks
Roy Keane has had his say on the JJ Gabriel situation(Image: The Overlap)
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Roy Keane has suggested Manchester United can have no complaints over JJ Gabriel's exit - as they have done the same thing to other clubs. It comes after United head coach Michael Carrick confirmed he is involved in conversations regarding the teenager's future.
The academy star is looking to leave ahead of what could have been his first-team debut on Wednesday night. The club had planned to include Gabriel in their squad to face Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup third round. It would have made the 15-year-old United’s youngest-ever first-team player.
But that did not happen after his stunning request was made earlier this week. Concern grew over Gabriel after he deleted all pictures on his Instagram profile last week. The unusual behaviour came without any explanation, but his desire to leave may offer one.
Keane has now had his say on the situation while appearing on the latest episode of the Overlap. The former midfielder suggests United deserve it given they have poached players from other clubs.
He said: “Have United gone and poached 15 and 14-year-old kids from other clubs? Smaller clubs?
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“Then you have to take your medicine. I’m sure United have been doing this the last 20 years with young kids, whether it’d be with Wolves or lesser clubs. [They’d go] We’re taking him.'“
Gabriel's future has dominated headlines over the last few days, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich all keen to sign him.
JJ Gabriel with Manchester United
JJ Gabriel has plenty of potential suitors after his desire to leave Manchester United came to light(Image: Manchester United via Getty Imag)
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And Carrick was asked for an update on the situation at his press conference after the Brighton defeat on Wednesday night.
The 45-year-old said: "I just think we've got to be really careful of the whole situation, you know.
"He's a young boy, he's 15, and for me, definitely, and from a club point of view, is looking after our younger players, their welfare, their well-being, their exposure, and I think we've got to be really, all of us, I think we've got to be really conscious of that, really, in this situation."
When Carrick was asked whether he gets involved with conversations over Gabriel's future, or leaves it to club chiefs, he responded: "No, as a club for sure, we're all involved in those conversations. I just think we've got to be very careful, you know, of that."