BREAKING NEWS: Reports indicate that an urgent board meeting is underway at Manchester United after one of the club’s most promising young talents, JJ Gabriel, communicated his intention to leave.
According to The Athletic, the highly rated youngster had already informed the club last summer that he was preparing to move on and expressed gratitude to everyone who had supported his development. His message reportedly sparked immediate concern within the club hierarchy.
In response, Manchester United scheduled an emergency meeting in June, just one day after Gabriel returned from his holiday.
During this meeting, senior officials and directors presented several reasons why the teenager should remain at Old Trafford.
Their efforts were successful, as Gabriel eventually reversed his decision after being shown a structured plan for how he could progress into the first team in the coming years.
The 15-year-old has been attracting significant attention both inside and outside England. Manager Ruben Amorim took special interest in Gabriel after reviewing video footage of his performances while travelling during the club’s pre-season tour.
This led to Gabriel being invited to join senior team training on multiple occasions, where he reportedly impressed the coaching staff with his skill, maturity, and confidence despite his age.
Meanwhile, several major clubs have been monitoring his development. Manchester City were one of the teams that made a serious attempt to sign him last summer, and a number of top European sides have been keeping tabs on him as well. Barcelona remain interested and continue to track his progress closely.
However, Manchester United are determined not to lose him and are doing everything possible to secure his long-term future with the club.
Gabriel recently made his Old Trafford debut in impressive fashion, scoring the decisive goal in a 1–0 victory over Peterborough United.
His strike helped the Manchester United Under-18 side progress to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup, further raising excitement about his potential.
Although it is still uncertain whether Gabriel will feature for the first team this season, his rapid improvement and strong performances in training suggest he may not be far from that milestone.
Manchester United will face Brighton & Hove Albion in the FA Cup third round next month, and with that tournament being the club’s most realistic chance of lifting silverware this season, Amorim is likely to select a strong squad.
Even so, Gabriel might need to wait until next season before earning his senior debut, meaning patience and continued development will be essential.
For now, Manchester United remain focused on convincing the young star that his future lies at Old Trafford, while he continues working hard to justify the growing belief in his talent.
