Steven Gerrard has fired a clear warning to Manchester United youngster JJ Gabriel
Manchester United youngster JJ Gabriel wants to leave the club.
Manchester United youngster JJ Gabriel wants to leave the club.(Image: PA Wire)
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Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has warned JJ Gabriel that the same obstacles he faces at Manchester United will exist at Real Madrid under Jose Mourinho. The 15-year-old informed the club he wished to leave amid interest from La Liga giants Real, having been on the verge of his first-team debut in midweek.
The youngster dropped the bombshell that he wanted his registration terminated at Old Trafford, and has not featured for any of the Reds' teams since. United boss Michael Carrick stressed caution regarding Gabriel in the aftermath of the defeat to Brighton.
Carrick said: "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 on that one."
That's a sentiment that's now been echoed by Gerrard, who says Gabriel's career needs protection. Speaking to TNT Sports, Gerrard said: "It’s not just in this situation. Broadly, it scares me in the game that kids can now be rushed or careers can be forced.
"I don't know the details and the background in this isolated situation with JJ Gabriel but if you look at it all he's at one of the biggest clubs in the world. They've got a history and a tradition of producing fantastic players.
"There will be top people behind the scenes at Manchester United but the big thing for me is, you've got an English coach [Michael Carrick] and an English assistant manager [Steve Holland] who will want to, when the time is right, and when they think he's ready, protect him… but when they feel he's ready they will play him.
"Not just this situation, the game as a whole, these talents, they have parents, they have agents, outside influences that force and rush too soon, and it can affect a kid's career.
JJ Gabriel has been absent from Carrington since scoring a hat-trick against Sabah FK in the UEFA Youth League
JJ Gabriel has been absent from Carrington since scoring a hat-trick against Sabah FK in the UEFA Youth League(Image: Manchester United/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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"It is going to add huge pressure and also if you're another club looking into this situation you’re thinking to yourself, 'yeah the kid is a big talent', but do you want the baggage and the noise around it?
"Let's use Jose Mourinho for example at Real Madrid. Even if he goes to Real Madrid now, is Jose Mourinho going to play this kid straight away? Is he going to be forced to push him? You know what these elite managers are like, they play kids when they are ready to contribute to the team.
"In my opinion they need to look after the kid's health and his care, but Manchester United can give him that, they've got a history of doing that. I don't see the rush, I don't see the panic.
"I don't know what's been said or promised behind the scenes, but from the outside this stinks to me that someone is pushing, forcing and rushing it. And I don't think it's going to help the kid in any way, shape or form.
"As a say, I'm a big rival of Manchester United, but I've watched Manchester United from afar, there's top coaches there, top people. I know Michael Carrick very well and, if this kid was ready, he'd be getting played."