JJ Gabriel remains poised to depart Manchester United, even though his image appeared in the club’s official first‑team squad photograph for the 2026/27 campaign. According to Sky Sports News, the photo shoot took place on September 8, at a time when Gabriel was still registered with United and was expected to feature for the senior side during the upcoming season. Within a few days of that session, Gabriel and his family formally submitted a request to leave the club.
The teenager is still listed on United’s roster, and the outlet reports that the club has made numerous attempts to resolve the impasse with the 15‑year‑old and his representatives. United cites a duty of care for a player of Gabriel’s age as a primary consideration, yet no satisfactory agreement has emerged. Interest in the young attacker has surged across Europe, with clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Paris Saint‑Germain and Bayern Munich reportedly engaged in discussions with his camp. From United’s viewpoint, the organization believes it has done everything possible to present a clear pathway to senior football while safeguarding Gabriel’s long‑term growth.
One tangible example is his inclusion in the first‑team squad photo released on Monday, a visual cue that manager Michael Carrick intended to involve him in his plans for the season. Another point United highlights is Gabriel’s participation in pre‑season training with the senior squad, culminating in a debut appearance in a friendly against Atletico Madrid. However, the Gabriel family argues that the limited minutes he received – roughly eight to nine minutes off the bench in that friendly – fell short of their expectations. The disagreement deepened after Gabriel failed to rejoin the academy squad at the start of the pre‑season period.
While the under‑21 side reported back to Carrington a week before the senior team, Gabriel’s representatives insisted he should train exclusively with the first team, effectively withdrawing him from the U21 schedule. According to Sky Sports News, United devised an individualized development programme for Gabriel, overseen by first‑team coaches as well as the club’s medical and performance departments. These specialists reportedly maintained regular contact with both the player and his family to ensure he received the support they deemed appropriate. Despite this, a divergence of opinion persisted regarding the extent of his involvement at the start of the campaign.
Gabriel’s camp requested that the 15‑year‑old be allotted at least 20 minutes of playing time in three high‑profile matches: a Champions League tie against Sabah, an FA Cup fixture versus Brighton, and a Premier League encounter with Bournemouth scheduled for October 25. These demands were made before negotiations concerning a scholarship contract that would lock his future at United. Ultimately, Gabriel was deemed ineligible for the Sabah match because he was not placed on United’s A‑list. Instead, he featured in the UEFA Youth League fixture against the Azerbaijani side on the same day, where he netted a hat‑trick.
When Gabriel turns 16 on October 6, he will automatically move onto United’s B‑list, making him eligible for senior matchday squads moving forward. His family believes this milestone would have been the ideal moment for him to break into the first team on a regular basis. Since that period, however, Gabriel has not trained with United’s senior group. Club insiders suggest the friction between the two parties stems from Gabriel’s family’s desire to chase historic records and rapid progression, while United aims to manage his development prudently to avoid burnout or injury.
To date, no formal dialogue has taken place between United and any interested European clubs regarding a potential transfer. Sky Sports News indicates that should a foreign club attempt to acquire Gabriel by exploiting a FIFA loophole, United is prepared to pursue legal action. It is suspected that the shift in the family’s stance surrounding the Sabah match may have been influenced by promises from another club or by an agent representing Gabriel’s interests.
For the moment, the teenager remains on Manchester United’s books, and despite the strained relationship, the club maintains that it offers the optimal environment for his personal and athletic growth. Nonetheless, given the intense interest from several of Europe’s elite teams, many observers consider it unlikely that Gabriel will ever again don a United shirt. Sky Sports News has reached out to Gabriel’s family for comment.