The Demand JJ Gabriel's Family Made to Man Utd Days Before He Requested to Leave

· GiveMeSport

More information on what happened behind the scenes which prompted Gabriel's request to leave has emerged.

Manchester United wonderkid JJ Gabriel hit the headlines last month when he asked to have his registration with the club cancelled.

Big things are expected of Gabriel, just 16 years old, who joined the Red Devils in 2022 following spells at Chelsea, Arsenal and West Ham United.

He looked set to make his first-team debut during the 2026/27 campaign after featuring for the club in pre-season. However, in September, just days prior to Man Utd's Carabao Cup third-round clash against Brighton & Hove Albion, a match Gabriel was expected to feature in, the youngster made the club aware of his wish to leave.

The teenager was not included in United's squad for the game and has not even trained for the club since.

Shortly after news of Gabriel wanting to leave broke, it was claimed that the youngster was frustrated by the lack of opportunities given to him at first-team level.

He was reportedly upset that he wasn't named on the bench for the team's first home game in the Premier League against Ipswich Town, while his lack of minutes in United's opening game of the Champions League season against Azerbaijani side Sabah also contributed to the player's decision to push for a move away.

United won that match 4-0 at Old Trafford. Youngsters Harry Amass and Shea Lacey both featured, while Gabriel did not.

A set of demands that Gabriel's family made ahead of that match against Sabah have now emerged. According to ESPN, his representatives told United he must play at least 20 minutes against Sabah, Brighton and in the Premier League fixture against Bournemouth at Old Trafford on October 25 before entering discussions over a scholarship.

Their demands have sparked a big reaction on Reddit. One fan said: 'This is truly pathetic seeing a child’s family behave like this and make these demands…'

A second commented: 'It's disgusting what his family and representatives are doing to him. Likely to ruin his career', while a third wrote: 'This is extremely embarrassing from the JJ camp.'

Despite the breakdown in relationship between club and player, Man Utd believe Old Trafford is the best place for him to develop, and club officials have made a number of attempts to check on his well-being since he stopped reporting for training.

United also believe they did everything in their power to get Gabriel ready for first-team football. They assigned coaches and specialist staff to ensure he was prepared for the demands of the men's game. They also accepted a demand from Gabriel to be given the No.77 squad number for this season, while they petitioned the Premier League on his behalf to allow him to have the name 'Gabriel JR' on the back of his shirt.

Man Utd legend Wayne Rooney knows Gabriel well, with his son, Kai, playing alongside the wantaway youngster in United's academy. Rooney said that Gabriel wanting to leave the club was 'disappointing'.

> “I think that anyone close to it knew that was coming,” he said on Stick to United: “In fairness to Manchester United, they've done everything, they've done absolutely everything to keep him, to keep him at the club.

> “I think it's been known that there's been a desire to go and play probably in Spain, I think, I might be wrong, but this is what you've heard over the years. The club have treated him probably differently to the other players because he is such a special talent.

> “I know, I recognise, I understand that because I was that player at Everton and I was getting that treatment at Everton which was you're getting a bit more, your parents get given stuff, you're getting that special treatment more than the other players are getting. Which as a club you need to do to try and keep your better players.

> “It's just disappointing, of course, because he is such a top player and he's a lovely kid. So you never know whether it's gone too far and whether there is a chance to stay. But I think everyone close to it has probably known that that was going to come”.

Manchester City are among the clubs that are eyeing a move for Gabriel . Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid are also believed to be interested.

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