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 photograph was taken on September 8, a date when Gabriel was still officially a United player and was expected to feature for the senior side during that season. Within a few days of that shoot, Gabriel and his family submitted a formal request to terminate his registration with the club.
Despite the paperwork, Gabriel is still listed on United’s roster, and Sky Sports reports that the club has made numerous attempts to resolve the impasse with the 16‑year‑old and his representatives. The club’s duty‑of‑care obligations toward such a young talent have been cited as a key factor in these discussions, yet no agreement has been reached. Interest in Gabriel has surged across Europe, with elite clubs such as Barcelona and Real Madrid reportedly holding talks with his camp, while Paris Saint‑Germain and Bayern Munich have also expressed curiosity about the prodigious attacker.
From United’s standpoint, the organization believes it has done everything possible to illustrate a clear pathway to first‑team football while safeguarding Gabriel’s long‑term development. One of the club’s most visible gestures was the inclusion of Gabriel’s name and likeness in the first‑team squad photo released on Monday, a clear signal that manager Michael Carrick intended to involve him in senior plans for the season.
Additionally, United invited Gabriel to train with the first‑team during pre‑season and even granted him a debut appearance in a friendly against Atlético Madrid, further underscoring the club’s commitment to integrating him. However, Gabriel and his family argue that the brief eight‑ to nine‑minute cameo he received in that friendly fell short of their expectations.
They contend that a player of his calibre deserves a more substantial role, especially given his rapid rise through the academy ranks. The tension dates back to the start of pre‑season, when the then‑15‑year‑old failed to report back with the under‑21 squad as scheduled. The U21s returned to Carrington a week before the senior team, and Gabriel was expected to rejoin them at the same time.
Instead, his family decided that returning to the U21s would be a step down and insisted that he should train exclusively with the first‑team, consequently pulling him out of the academy schedule. Sky Sports also learned that United devised an individualized development plan for Gabriel, overseen by first‑team coaches, medical staff, and performance analysts. These specialists engaged directly with Gabriel and his family to ensure he received the level of support they believed was appropriate for a player of his promise.
Even though internal sources describe the relationship between United and Gabriel’s camp as generally harmonious, a fundamental disagreement emerged over how much first‑team action the youngster would receive at the start of the campaign. Gabriel’s family requested that he be allotted at least 20 minutes of playing time in three specific fixtures: the Champions League tie against Sabah, the FA Cup match versus Brighton, and the Premier League encounter with Bournemouth on October 25. These demands were made before any negotiations concerning a scholarship contract that would lock the player into a longer‑term future at Old Trafford.
When United’s management compiled the squad list for the Champions League match against Sabah, Gabriel was omitted from the A‑list, rendering him ineligible for that senior fixture. Instead, he featured in the UEFA Youth League game against the same Azerbaijani side on the same day and delivered a spectacular hat‑trick.
Now that Gabriel has turned 16, he automatically qualifies for United’s B‑list, which would make him eligible for senior matchday squads moving forward. Nevertheless, his family believes that the timing of his promotion should have coincided with a more prominent first‑team role, not merely a youth‑league appearance.
Previous reports have suggested that, despite being contracted until the season’s end, Gabriel could exploit a FIFA loophole that permits a player over 16 to move abroad if he holds a European passport – a status he could obtain through either of his parents. This legal nuance has fueled speculation that a European club could lure him away once he reaches the appropriate age.
Since the dispute intensified, Gabriel has not taken part in any United training sessions. Club insiders attribute the growing strain to Gabriel’s family’s ambition to chase historic records and rapid senior exposure, while United remains focused on protecting the player’s long‑term growth and avoiding premature burnout.
To date, no formal contact has been made between United and any prospective buying club regarding Gabriel’s availability. Sky Sports has been informed that should a European side attempt to acquire him by invoking the FIFA loophole, United is prepared to pursue legal action to defend its contractual rights. It is widely assumed within the club that the shift in Gabriel’s family’s attitude surrounding the Sabah match was influenced by promises or overtures from external parties—whether another European club or a potential agent acting on their behalf. For the moment, the teenager remains on Manchester United’s books, and despite the fractured rapport, many at the club still maintain that United offers the optimal environment for his technical and personal development.
Yet, given the intense interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs, the likelihood of seeing Gabriel don the famous red shirt again appears increasingly slim. Sky Sports News has reached out to Gabriel’s family for comment but has yet to receive a response.
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