JJ Gabriel, 15, has asked Manchester United to terminate his contract. PSG, Real Madrid, and Barcelona are among the clubs interested in the young prospect.
Considered one of Manchester United’s most important young prospects, Joseph Junior Gabriel has asked to leave the Red Devils, and major European clubs, including PSG, are already circling, according to reports.
Born on Oct. 6, 2010, JJ Gabriel wants to leave Old Trafford just a few days after his hat trick in the UEFA Youth League against Zaba, and just as he was due to join the professional group on Wednesday to face Brighton in the Carabao Cup.
Well, according to information from The Times, immediately confirmed afterward by practically the entire English press, the young and talented midfielder, who is almost 16 years old, has made the decision to leave Manchester United and has requested the termination of his contract, which extends until next June.
This stance caught the Red Devils by surprise, as they now risk losing him for free once he turns 16. According to The Athletic, JJ Gabriel’s contract extends until next summer, but because he is not a full-time first-team player, he could leave once he turns 16 if he has an Irish or Cypriot passport.
Post-Brexit regulations effectively require players to be 18 years old to leave England, unless they have dual nationality with a country in the European Union. The question now is whether JJ Gabriel has an Irish or Cypriot passport, as his father was capped twice for the Republic of Ireland national team, while his mother is of Cypriot origin.
JJ Gabriel Requests Manchester United Exit Amid PSG Interest
According to The Athletic, several clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain, will try to sign JJ Gabriel. The player’s preferred position is left winger, and he has a style that even comes close to Neymar’s, keeping the distance, obviously.
In any case, PSG are not alone in this race, as The Athletic cites Real Madrid, Barcelona, and even Bayern Munich as interested clubs. Transfer window specialist journalist Fabrizio Romano also confirmed the aforementioned clubs and added Manchester City and Chelsea to the mix.
Therefore, the race to sign JJ Gabriel appears fierce, although Manchester United have not yet said their final word, and they seem willing to do anything financially to convince the player to stay at Old Trafford.
JJ Gabriel has scored 31 goals and provided six assists in 34 matches for Manchester United’s youth categories since last season, playing against older boys.
