Manchester United teenager Jay Gabriel asks to leave as Real Madrid and European giants show interest

Manchester United have been surprised by a request from 15-year-old academy prospect Jay Gabriel to leave the club and become a free agent, with a number of leading European sides reportedly interested in signing him.

Gabriel, who has been nicknamed “the little Messi”, is regarded as one of the most promising young players in English football and within Manchester United’s academy. His decision has stunned the club, coming shortly after he became the youngest player in the club’s history to appear in a match.

The teenager made headlines by scoring a hat-trick for Manchester United’s youth side against Azerbaijan’s Sabah in the European Youth League. Earlier this summer, he also became the youngest player to wear a Manchester United shirt in a friendly when he featured against Atletico de Madrid in Stockholm, with United winning 2-1.

According to the Daily Mail, Manchester United’s management were taken aback by Gabriel’s request and remain unaware of the reasons behind it. The report says the youngster had recently become an important part of the first team’s training plans.

Manager Michael Carrick had been preparing to include Gabriel in the squad for Wednesday evening’s English League Cup match against Brighton. However, the player’s desire to leave appears to have led to a change in those plans.

The situation between Gabriel and Manchester United has become increasingly apparent in recent days. He removed all posts relating to the club from his Instagram account, while it is also believed that he missed training with the team on Tuesday.

Despite the sudden development, Manchester United do not believe the matter has reached an impasse and hope to find a solution with the player as soon as possible.

Premier League regulations state that the registration of a young player can only be cancelled with the agreement of the club, the player and his father or legal guardian. If the parties cannot reach an agreement, the Premier League can make the final decision on the player’s future.

Gabriel attracted significant attention last season after scoring more than 20 goals for Manchester United’s Under-18 side. His performances led to interest from several leading clubs in England and across Europe.

Sky Sports reports that the English prospect has been linked with a move to Manchester City, Manchester United’s local rivals, as well as Arsenal, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. His request to leave could therefore trigger a major contest for one of England’s most highly regarded emerging talents.