JJ Gabriel: How Arsenal and Dowman could cost Man Utd their ‘Messi’

17 Sept 2026 17:55 BST | 4 min read

Max Dowman, JJ Gabriel, Arsenal, Man Utd — © IMAGO

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

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Manchester United are facing the reality of potentially losing JJ Gabriel following the 15-year-old’s demand to be released immediately from his contract at Old Trafford.

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Gabriel is the most-hyped teenager to emerge from the Red Devils’ academy since Paul Pogba 15 years ago, yet the Premier League giants have been told that he wants to leave before he has even made his debut for the club.

Insiders at United have compared his likely departure to Barcelona losing Lionel Messi before he emerged in the first team.

Unsurprisingly, there is no shortage of interest in Gabriel, with Real Madrid reported by BBC Sport to be leading the way for the teenager’s signature. Barcelona, PSG, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Manchester City are among the other teams fighting to sign him.

How Max Dowman has changed JJ Gabriel’s thinking

One of Gabriel’s principal concerns at Man Utd, the BBC reports, is that he has not been given a pathway to the first team.

And he is eligible to play in the Premier League this season as he turns 16 on 6 October.

Those close to the London-born attacker have pointed to the impact that Max Dowman has had at Arsenal and want to be at a club where more confidence and emphasis is put on youth development. This was underscored again this week as Dowman scored twice for the Premier League champions in a Carabao Cup win over Ipswich.

Manager Michael Carrick has already suggested it is not the right thing for Man Utd to throw Gabriel into a first-team environment straight away, echoing reports that there are fears over his age and physicality.

Speaking after a 3-2 loss against Brighton in the Carabao Cup, he said: “I just think we've got to be really careful of the whole situation.

“He's a young boy. He's 15, and for me, definitely, and from a club point of view, looking after our younger players - their welfare, their well-being, their exposure - we've got to be really conscious of that in this situation.”

JJ Gabriel and Man Utd: What happens next?

Gabriel’s contract situation is complicated. United have “no intention” of terminating their current agreement with the player, which concludes at the end of the season, ESPN states.

However, he could sign a training contract with another club when he turns 16 on 6 October, opening the possibility of a switch to Real Madrid or Barcelona for only a compensatory fee in a matter of weeks. He will not be eligible to sign a professional deal until he turns 17.

Los Blancos are already planning for the teenager to be integrated into their Castilla side, which plays in the third tier of Spanish football.

Meanwhile, the same report indicates that Gabriel’s camp have left United in the dark as to why he has suddenly demanded a move. Equally, though, the Red Devils have not given up on retaining the player, who is said to have missed training this week in an apparent escalation of the situation.