Manchester United is considering regulatory or legal action against anyone who helps 15-year-old JJ Gabriel leave the club, as his expected exit gathers pace, according to The Sun.
Gabriel told Manchester United last month that he wanted to depart. The club would receive only minimal compensation if the forward moved overseas, with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich among the clubs interested in signing him.
The development came on the same day it emerged that agent Ali Barat had been authorised by the Football Association to represent minors. Barat’s company, Epic Sports, helped arrange Denzel Dumfries’ move to Inter Milan and Nikola Jackson’s transfer to Aston Villa this summer.
Epic Sports has also facilitated contact between Gabriel’s representatives and Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. The company has been asked for a response, while the FA has not said whether an agent has applied to register as Gabriel’s representative.
Gabriel has reposted several social media updates this week and is currently training abroad at a camp in Barcelona, where he also worked during the summer.
One of the posts he shared showed his brother wearing a Barcelona training kit. Barcelona sporting director Deco previously suggested that, despite the club’s attempts to sign Gabriel, it would not continue pursuing a deal.
Manchester United’s Premier League rivals have not ruled out making an approach, although Gabriel is expected to move outside England.
The teenager had been expected to be part of Manchester United’s squad for the Carabao Cup third-round fixture against Brighton. He was not included in the squad for the UEFA Champions League match against Sabah on September 10, when 19-year-olds Shea Lacey and Harry Amass made their debuts in a 4-0 win.
Gabriel’s father, Joe O’Shiruol, was unhappy that his son had not been named on Manchester United’s Champions League A list. Clubs can normally add a homegrown player to the B list before kick-off, but Gabriel was under 16 at the time and did not meet the eligibility requirements. He turns 16 on October 6.
Gabriel spent most of pre-season training with Manchester United’s first team and made his senior debut by coming on for the final 10 minutes of a friendly against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm on August 1.
He was named Manchester United’s Young Player of the Year, travelled with the squad to a training camp in Ireland and was included on the club’s Premier League squad list wearing number 77.
Gabriel has also made a strong start at youth level this season, scoring in each of his first two appearances for Manchester United U21 before claiming a hat-trick on his UEFA Youth League debut.