“Exit appeared inevitable”: PL rivals made shock move to snap up United’s generational talent – The Athletic

JJ Gabriel underlined why he is one of the most talked about young players in England with his statement performance in the FA Youth Cup at Old Trafford. On Tuesday, Gabriel, 15, became the youngest player to represent Manchester United in the competition. Playing as a number 10, the young sensation scored the match winning goal against Peterborough United. However, the England U16 international’s display will only increase interest from top clubs. Manchester City tried to sign Gabriel According to The Athletic, JJ Gabriel, who is regarded as the best player in the country to be born in 2010, came very close to leaving United. At the start of the summer he and his family reportedly informed United they were planning to move. “At one stage, his exit appeared inevitable,” the report states. It is believed Manchester City were among the teams “seriously interested”. Gabriel has earned comparisons to City’s Phil Foden for his close control.  However, United “organised an emergency meeting in June” and convinced his camp to extend his stay at Carrington. Director of football Jason Wilcox played a key role in this move.  La Liga powerhouses following Man United wonderkid Gabriel will only be eligible to sign his first professional contract in 2027, and Europe’s top sides are still tracking him.  Recently, The Peoples Person relayed a report claiming Barcelona are “stepping up efforts” to sign the United prodigy. Real Madrid are also thought to be monitoring the development of the Englishman, who has scored 13 goals in 14 appearances for the Under-18s. United, meanwhile, continue to work on showing Gabriel they are the best place for his development. The technically-gifted forward has trained with Ruben Amorim’s squad multiple times. United skipper Bruno Fernandes “has been especially welcoming, calling Gabriel by his name and chatting to him.” Featured image Christopher Furlong via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Vishal Singh Vishal has worked in the football media industry for over six years, planning, writing, and editing content for several major outlets, including North Star Network. Vishal has a bachelor’s degree in English Literature from Delhi University. Currently a writer at The Peoples Person, he covers Manchester United — a club he has been religiously following and supporting since 2012. Vishal also manages a leading MUFC fan page, The Red Devils, on Facebook with over a million likes. Big fan of ball-playing centre-backs and Harry Maguire’s knee-slide celebration!