MANCHESTER UNITED fear that JJ Gabriel could move to neighbours City.
Gabriel, 15, has asked to leave after he was not involved in United’s opening Champions League match against Sabah last week.
The club had planned to include Gabriel in their matchday squad in the League Cup third round against Brighton on Wednesday evening amid the possibility he could have become United’s youngest ever player.
Gabriel has not trained with the first team in two weeks but has scored five goals in his three appearances for the Under 21s and Under 19s.
City, Chelsea and Barcelona are interested in Gabriel, who was named among United’s Premier League squad numbers this term.
United hope to salvage the situation and repair their relationship with Gabriel and his entourage but would demand a significant compensation fee if he leaves.
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Gabriel has requested to be de-registered from his current contract that runs until the end of the season.
United sources insist Gabriel cannot be de-registered.
Well-placed sources say huge sums have been demanded from interested agencies to represent Gabriel ahead of a potentially lucrative transfer.
Barcelona have made a concerted effort to woo Gabriel and he spent part of his summer in Catalonia.
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Wednesday 16 September
Man Utd
20:00
LEC
Brighton
Sunday 20 September
Fulham
16:30
EPL
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Saturday 10 October
Man Utd
17:30
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Spurs
Tuesday 13 October
Atlético
20:00
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Man Utd
Sunday 13 September
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0 – 1
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Thursday 10 September
Man Utd
4 – 0
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Sabah
Sunday 6 September
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Sunday 30 August
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United and City have raided each other at academy level in recent years, with Darren Fletcher’s twin sons, Jack and Tyler, moving to Old Trafford in 2023.
City signed Harrison Parker in what United sources described at the time as a “revenge move”. United signed David Eze and Karim Cassim from City’s academy in the summer.
United have arranged for Gabriel to train multiple times with their first team and he came on in their pre-season win against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm in August.
Former United head coach Ruben Amorim and director of football Jason Wilcox provided Gabriel with reassurances as part of the club’s charm offensive last season.
The teenager was handed the brand-conscious number 77 but his father, Joe O’Cearuill, has been described as a “problem” in the club’s dealings.
Friday 18 September
Brentford
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Friday 18 September
Brentford
20:00
EPL
Chelsea
Saturday 19 September
Spurs
12:30
EPL
Villa
Brighton
15:00
EPL
Arsenal
Everton
15:00
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Ipswich
Newcastle
15:00
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Hull
Forest
17:30
EPL
Coventry
Monday 14 September
Leeds
4 – 1
EPL
Newcastle
Sunday 13 September
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0 – 1
EPL
Man City
Coventry
0 – 5
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Brighton
Saturday 12 September
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