JJ Gabriel Camp Demanded Guaranteed Minutes Before Manchester United Scholarship Negotiations

Representatives for JJ Gabriel demanded the 15-year-old play at least 20 minutes against Sabah FK, Brighton, and Bournemouth before beginning scholarship talks.

Representatives for 15-year-old forward JJ Gabriel demanded the teenager receive at least 20 minutes of playing time in fixtures against Sabah FK, Brighton, and the October 25 Premier League match against Bournemouth before entering scholarship negotiations, sources told ESPN. Gabriel has not reported for training since September 16, when he walked out on Manchester United prior to a Carabao Cup tie against Brighton. Although he appears in the official squad photo released Monday, the image was captured nearly a month ago.

Manchester United previously granted several requests from Gabriel's camp, including assigning him the No. 77 shirt and petitioning the Premier League to allow "Gabriel JR" on his jersey. The club also provided specialist staff usually reserved for senior players to assist his development. Gabriel, who turns 16 on Tuesday, made his first-team debut during a preseason friendly against Atlético Madrid but was later left out of the Champions League squad.

Sources told ESPN that Gabriel's representatives believe the club has broken specific promises. Conversely, internal sentiment at Old Trafford suggests Gabriel's family and representatives are prioritizing record-breaking over long-term growth. While Barcelona and Real Madrid have been linked to the player, United has not received a formal enquiry and is reportedly prepared to take legal action if evidence emerges of illegal approaches by other clubs. Gabriel was eligible to sign a scholarship pre-agreement starting October 6.