JJ Gabriel Seeks Manchester United Exit as Talks Continue

Manchester United winger JJ Gabriel has asked to leave the club, and the 16-year-old has not trained there since the request was made in September. United is still seeking to resolve the situation, but his next club and whether he will depart remain unclear. Gabriel remains registered with United. The club is reported to believe Old Trafford offers the best environment for his development and to have made attempts to repair the relationship with his family. Manager Michael Carrick said in September that the club needed to handle the matter carefully, with attention to Gabriel’s welfare, wellbeing and exposure as a young player. The request followed a period in which Gabriel trained with United’s first team and appeared in a preseason friendly against Atlético Madrid. He was also included in the club’s squad photograph, but reports say it was taken before the family notified United of his wish to leave. He has not made a senior competitive appearance for the club. Reports have linked the breakdown to disagreements over his first-team pathway. Gabriel’s representatives reportedly asked United to give him at least 20 minutes in specified matches before discussing a scholarship.