Carrick urges caution over JJ Gabriel's Manchester United future

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has publicly urged caution in handling the future of 15-year-old academy prospect JJ Gabriel, who has formally requested to leave the club. The situation has emerged as a significant concern for the Premier League side, with the player's camp submitting a request to terminate his youth registration. Gabriel was reportedly in line to make his senior debut for Manchester United in the Carabao Cup match against Brighton on September 17, 2026. However, he was omitted from the squad after his exit request became known. Carrick, speaking after United's 3-2 defeat in that match, emphasized the need to prioritize the teenager's welfare. "We have to be a little bit careful on that one. He's a 15-year-old boy," Carrick told reporters. "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." The manager confirmed his involvement in discussions about Gabriel's future, stating, "As a club, for sure, we're all involved in those conversations. I just think we've got to be very careful of that.