Manchester United have formally offered JJ Gabriel a scholarship contract for next season, but the club remains at risk of losing the teenage forward for a compensation fee as low as £350,000. Gabriel, who turned 16 this week, stunned United last month when he asked for his registration to be cancelled, triggering interest from some of Europe’s leading clubs.
The offer matters because of Premier League youth rules. Had United not lodged a formal scholarship offer for next season, Gabriel would have been free to join a rival for nothing in January. The scholarship has now been put to the player, though it appears unlikely he will accept and stay at Old Trafford.
If Gabriel chooses a Premier League club, that club must negotiate a fee directly with United. Should no agreement be reached, compensation would be decided by a Professional Football Compensation Committee tribunal. United would expect to receive more than £3m in that scenario, plus a clause granting them 20% of his next transfer fee. Liverpool were required to pay Chelsea £2.8m up front, with an additional £1.2m in performance-related add-ons, for Rio Ngumoha in a previous tribunal for a high-profile academy player, and a 20% sell-on clause was inserted.
A United team photograph released earlier this week featuring Gabriel briefly raised hopes among supporters of a reconciliation. But a breakdown between his representatives and the club means the forward, who has been at United since he was 11, is now almost certain to leave.
Gabriel had been allowed under Premier League rules to sign a pre-agreement after his 16th birthday, but his camp were not prepared to enter discussions following a disagreement over first-team minutes. His next destination has not been decided, although he is believed to favour a move to Europe, where the compensation would be significantly lower.
Real Madrid are favourites to sign him, while Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are all monitoring the situation. FIFA compensation figures for a Category I academy indicate United would receive around £350,000 if he moves abroad. Gabriel would ordinarily have been barred from transferring before his 18th birthday, but he is eligible for an EU passport through his parents. United will consider legal action if they believe recruitment rules have been breached.
Gabriel has not appeared at training for more than three weeks, and sources say the club has made multiple attempts to check on his wellbeing. To speed his progress towards the first team, he had been working with specialist staff usually reserved for senior players.