JJ Gabriel: Man Utd wonderkid rejects two moves as ‘exorbitant’ demands emerge

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Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Manchester United wonderkid JJ Gabriel is taking steps to leave the club, but has already rejected two offers amid accelerating interest from Real Madrid, Barcelona and Bayern Munich in the player.

Gabriel made his desire to leave Man Utd clear in September, with claims that he was not convinced that he would be offered a pathway to the first team.

After turning 16 on 6 October, he can now sign a contract at a rival club and is taking steps that will allow him to move abroad, although he will not be going just anywhere, having turned down two offers amid revelations of huge contract demands.

Gabriel’s seven-figure wage demands detailed

Gabriel has “very, very high financial demands”, with Spanish outlet Sport claiming that he wants at least €1 million per year from any club that is to sign him.

This revelation comes after Sky Sports Deutschland’s Florian Plettenberg revealed that the forward is demanding an “exorbitant” signing-on fee in addition to his wages.

He explained: “Gabriel is currently in the process of getting his Cypriot passport, not an Irish one. It should be finalised in the next few days. He would then formally complete his move in January.

“Agent Ali Barat was in Munich on 5 May this year for talks with Bayern. There were fresh talks on Monday.

“Barcelona, Real Madrid and Bayern are the main contenders to sign him, PSG lurking in the background.

“Bayern are sceptical about their chances because of his ‘XXL’ financial demands – his salary would be over €1m plus an ‘exorbitant’ signing-on fee.

“Barcelona and Real Madrid would be willing to pay him millions.

“If he were to choose Bayern, they would immediately integrate him into the first team. JJ has already rejected Leipzig and Leverkusen.”

What next for JJ Gabriel?

Gabriel’s future increasingly appears to be away from Manchester United, with the apparent willingness of the Spanish clubs to get close to his financial demands suggesting that he will be heading to Real Madrid or Barcelona in January.

When he appears in the first team of his chosen destination is less clear. It’s certainly interesting that Plettenberg says Bayern were willing to throw him in at that level immediately, particularly in the context of all the noises from Spain indicating that he would go into Real Madrid’s reserve side.