Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has sent a clear warning to his former club, describing the potential exit of 15-year-old academy wonderkid JJ Gabriel as a “massive disappointment” and a major blow for Carrington.
The highly-rated teenage sensation—dubbed ‘Kid Messi’ by youth football observers—recently submitted a formal request to leave Old Trafford after catching the attention of European heavyweights Real Madrid and Barcelona. Gabriel recently cemented his elite status by scoring a sensational hat-trick on his UEFA Youth League debut against Sabah.
Speaking on Disney’s Stick To Football podcast, Rooney revealed close inside knowledge of the situation having watched Gabriel play alongside his son Kai in United’s academy. The former Red Devils skipper defended the club’s efforts to keep the attacker, drawing parallels to his own rise as a teenager at Everton.
“In fairness to Manchester United, they have done everything, absolutely everything, to keep him at the club,” Rooney stated. “The club have treated him probably differently to other players because he is such a special player. I recognize that because I was that player at Everton. You never know whether it’s gone too far or whether there is still a chance for him to stay.”
Rooney added that he fully expected Gabriel to make his senior first-team debut under Carrington management this season given his extraordinary balance and technical ability. While United remain hopeful of changing the youngster’s mind before he turns 16 next month, a exit would mark a bitter loss for Carrington’s developmental pathway.
Should Manchester United pull out all the stops to keep JJ Gabriel, or let him go if he wants out? Drop your thoughts below!
