The highly-rated teeneager has asked to leave the club and has held talks with Barcelona
Wayne Rooney has said that JJ Gabriel’s potential move away from Manchester United has been known to those close to the situation for “a while”. The highly-rated teenager has expressed his desire to leave the club.
Gabriel and his family have since flown over to Barcelona to hold talks with the Spanish giants over a possible move. He was expected to be part of the first team squad for the Carabao Cup clash against Brighton before the bombshell revelation.
United legend Rooney, who himself made his breakthrough into first team football as a teenager and has a son, Kai, playing in the academy, has now hinted that United were aware of the forward’s desire for some time. He also suggested a move to Spain could be on the cards.
Speaking on Disney+’s Stick to United, Rooney said: “I think that anyone close to it knew that was coming. In fairness to Manchester United, they’ve done everything, they’ve done absolutely everything to keep him, to keep him at the club.
“I think it’s been known that there’s been a desire to go and play probably in Spain, I think, I might be wrong, but this is what you’ve heard over the years. The club have treated him probably differently to the other players because he is such a special talent.
“I know, I recognise, I understand that because I was that player at Everton and I was getting that treatment at Everton which was you’re getting a bit more, your parents get given stuff, you’re getting that special treatment more than the other players are getting. Which as a club you need to do to try and keep your better players.
FOLLOW OUR MAN UNITED FB PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester United Facebook page
“It’s just disappointing, of course, because he is such a top player and he’s a lovely kid. So you never know whether it’s gone too far and whether there is a chance to stay.
“But I think everyone close to it has probably known that that was going to come”
Gabriel is one of the most exciting talents in the United youth teams. Despite being just 15, he has scored 29 goals and provided four assists in 32 appearances for the club’s Under-18s team. He has also scored two and provided two assists in two appearances for the Under-21s.
Speaking about the situation, United boss Michael Carrick is keen to protect the young player. “He’s a young boy, JJ, and I think it’s important that we certainly don’t play anything out here,” he said.
“I think the exposure and the scrutiny and everything, you’ve got to be careful and be sensible and think of him as much as anything. So the situation will work itself out, whatever way it’s going to work itself out. Making sure he’s okay is the important thing.”
You must be logged in to post a comment Login