JJ Gabriel's Irish passport loophole that's giving Manchester United a headache

 Manchester United have been left stunned after 15-year-old JJ Gabriel's surprising decision to try leaving Old Trafford, with the youngster declining to take part in Tuesday's training session despite being close to a possible first-team debut this week.

The club had planned to include Gabriel in their matchday squad for Wednesday's Carabao Cup third-round clash against Brighton, but the teenager chose not to join Michael Carrick's training group after requesting to leave.

Had he stepped onto the field against the Seagulls, Gabriel would have written his name into the record books as United's youngest-ever player, yet he has caught the club off guard by submitting official paperwork requesting his registration be canceled.

Club officials remain puzzled about what triggered Gabriel's wish to depart, especially considering his connection with United since age 11. His recent UEFA Youth League debut against Sabah last Thursday saw him score a hat-trick, maintaining his rapid rise through the academy system.

While Gabriel's request and training no-show effectively eliminates any chance of a senior appearance this week, United remains optimistic that the situation can be resolved given the conditions of his current deal. A club source confirmed Gabriel's de-registration request cannot be processed, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Professional contracts are off the table until his 17th birthday, while scholarship deals require players to be at least 16 — an age Gabriel won't hit until October 6. However, current rules mean he stays registered with United through to the end of this season.

This isn't the first time he's flirted with an exit, either, with director of football Jason Wilcox previously intervening to keep Gabriel at the club when he was just 14 years old in 2025.

The gifted teenager has drawn interest from clubs across Europe, with Barcelona making a particularly aggressive push to land his signature. It's understood that Gabriel could make the move abroad from the age of 16, given that he holds an Irish passport.

Alarm bells rang when the 15-year-old wiped all references to Manchester United from his social media accounts on Friday, just a day after his hat-trick against Sabah. He has since formally requested to leave the club.

United handed senior Champions League debuts to 19-year-olds Harry Amass and Shea Lacey in the 4-0 win at Old Trafford, with fellow academy graduate Tyler Fletcher the only other youngster named on an expanded 12-man bench, as permitted under UEFA regulations.

Losing Gabriel would be a crushing blow for United. He is the youngest recipient of the Jimmy Murphy award for the club's best young player and racked up an impressive 26 goals in just 29 appearances last season.

He's netted five goals across three matches this season, with two coming in his first two fixtures at Premier League 2 level.