Six golf equipment JJ Gabriel might be a part of totally free if Man Utd lose ‘Kid Messi’ in switch blow

JJ Gabriel could spark a transfer scramble after the wonderkid told Manchester United he wants to quit the club and play elsewhere.

The 15-year-old, nicknamed ‘Kid Messi’ thanks to his feats at academy level for the Premier League giants, is widely considered one of the most talented youngsters on the planet. But it looks like a player touted to become the next Wayne Rooney will not be lighting up Old Trafford unless it’s as an opponent.

Gabriel was set to make his senior bow in United’s Carabao Cup clash with Brighton on Wednesday evening, but the developing saga has thrown that prospect into serious jeopardy. Gabriel has now requested that United tear up his registration in a stunning development that could see him become a free agent.

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United, who have nurtured him through their academy since he was 11, are yet to grant the appeal. According to existing rules, the 15-year-old stays tied to United until the campaign concludes. Premier League regulations concerning players below 17 bar them from penning professional deals, while youngsters must reach 16 before putting pen to paper on scholarship terms. Gabriel doesn’t celebrate his 16th birthday until next month.

If all sides come to an understanding, registrations can be torn up. The regulations specify: “If the parties don’t agree, then any person involved can also ask the Premier League to provide a binding decision on a termination request.” Should the striker’s ties with United be severed, he would be available to join another club.

Manchester City previously tried to lure him away from their cross-town adversaries and may well rekindle their pursuit should the chance arise. Several budding stars have transferred between the two Manchester clubs in recent seasons, with David Eze and Karim Cassim notably making the switch to Manchester United from City.

Both Barcelona and Real Madrid have also been linked with an interest in the young player and are anticipated to keep a close eye on proceedings. He has captured the attention of the Spanish heavyweights after bagging a hat-trick on his Uefa Youth League debut against Sabah last week, plus scoring 26 goals in 29 games last season.

A move to Spain has long been the dream destination for the player’s family. Such a scenario would be a blow to United, as they would be due only around £300,000 in compensation if he moves abroad, compared to a significantly higher fee if he joins an English club.

United’s arch-rivals Liverpool could similarly seek to exploit the situation. They have acted swiftly to secure some of the country’s most exciting young prospects in recent years, including Trey Nyoni, who joined from Leicester City in 2023 for around £1m, and Rio Ngumoha, who signed from Chelsea a year later and cost them an initial £2.8m after a tribunal.

TalkSPORT suggests Gabriel has caught the eye of two Premier League clubs, as well as teams in La Liga and Germany. Interest from the Bundesliga also opens up the possibility of a move to either Borussia Dortmund or Bayern Munich.

The former of those clubs, Dortmund, boast a solid reputation for developing English talent through their academy system. Both Jadon Sancho and Jamie Gittens thrived at the club before making their way back to the Premier League.

One team noticeably missing from the race is Chelsea. The Blues were hit with a nine-month academy transfer ban back in March, barring them from signing any youth players. The club was slapped with the ban and a £10million penalty by an independent appeal board after confessing to breaches of Football Association agent regulations. The club voluntarily reported the infractions in May 2022, amidst former owner Roman Abramovich’s sale of the club.

United’s concern grew over Gabriel after he deleted all pictures on his Instagram profile last week. The unusual behaviour came without any explanation, but his desire to leave may offer one. United officials are unclear what has caused Gabriel to demand to leave the club he has played for since the age of 11.