Like most pundits and fans this week, Gary Lineker and Micah Richards were stunned to hear of the developments coming out of Manchester United regarding JJ Gabriel.
The 15-year-old is still pushing to leave the club and has dropped out of training since the start of the week.
It’s certainly a bizarre problem that United are having to navigate, given they are being pressured into giving in to a teenager’s demands, which are seemingly coming from his family and agent (his father).
Gabriel is said to be dissatisfied with his lack of opportunities with the first team over pre-season and since the beginning of 2026/2027.
Sources close to JJ Gabriel, feel let down by #mufc, arguing promises around the pathway to the first team have not been kept.They have dismissed concerns over the player’s age and physicality and feel the likes of Max Dowman, who made his debut for Arsenal at the age of 15… pic.twitter.com/fxdJPFNDBd
Sources close to JJ Gabriel, feel let down by #mufc, arguing promises around the pathway to the first team have not been kept.They have dismissed concerns over the player’s age and physicality and feel the likes of Max Dowman, who made his debut for Arsenal at the age of 15… pic.twitter.com/fxdJPFNDBd
Last week, when fellow youngsters Shea Lacey, 19, and Harry Amass, 19, were brought off the bench to feature in United’s Champions League opener, that was deemed the final straw for the attacker – despite being in line to make his debut during Wednesday’s Carabao Cup clash against Brighton and Hove Albion.
He ruled himself out of the fixture by refusing to train, and Lacey went on to make his full debut instead, before notching his maiden senior goal at Old Trafford.
(Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
United are privately trying to sort matters with him and his camp, but their efforts are to no avail as of yet.
JJ Gabriel’s stats at Manchester United:U18s:38 games31 goals4 assistsUYL:1 game3 goals pic.twitter.com/JZm0js46d5
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JJ Gabriel’s stats at Manchester United:U18s:38 games31 goals4 assistsUYL:1 game3 goals pic.twitter.com/JZm0js46d5
Reacting on The Rest Is Football in recent days, both Richards and Lineker urged Gabriel to proceed with caution, given how quickly the news has hit the mainstream media and made him the centre of attention.
Richards did admit that the forward was an ‘absolutely outrageous’ talent, adding that he ‘looks like he could do anything’.
Lineker echoed the sentiment, hailing Gabriel as ‘prodigiously talented’ and ‘very, very special’.
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