JJ Gabriel snubbed for England youth call-ups days after Man Utd star demanded to quit

· Mirror

Young Manchester United star JJ Gabriel will not be playing for England during the international break amid his request to leave Old Trafford

Wantaway Manchester United youngster JJ Gabriel has been left out of the latest England youth team squads. The academy star is looking to leave Old Trafford ahead of what could have been his first-team debut on Wednesday night.

The Red Devils 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.

And now the teenager won't be featuring for any England youth team during the upcoming international break. The Telegraph report that football association staff have been assessing whether the teenager is in the right physical condition and mental state for international duty.

Lee Carsley's Under-21 side play their final three UEFA U21 Euro qualifiers and have an opportunity to secure their place at next summer’s finals in Albania and Serbia.

Carsley's team have upcoming fixtures against Kazakhstan, Slovakia and the Republic of Ireland, but Gabriel will play no part. Meanwhile, youth sides below the Under-21s are playing non-competitive matches during this window.

The young star has previous international caps for England Under-17s, Under-16s, and Under-15s and remains eligible for the Republic of Ireland through his father and Cyprus through his mother.

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.

United head coach Michael 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."

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