Manchester United manager Michael Carrick has urged caution over the JJ Gabriel transfer saga, with the 15-year-old’s future at Old Trafford attracting growing attention.
Gabriel is understood to be determined to leave United, although the claim has not been confirmed in Carrick’s comments. The highly-rated academy player has been linked with potential opportunities at Barcelona and Real Madrid, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Michael Carrick addresses JJ Gabriel transfer saga
Carrick said United’s priority must be to protect the teenager’s welfare and limit the exposure surrounding the situation.
“I just think we’ve got to be really careful of the whole situation, you know,” the United manager said.
He added: “He’s a young boy, he’s 15, and for me, definitely, and from a club point of view, is looking after our younger players, their welfare, their well-being, their exposure, and I think we’ve got to be really, all of us, I think we’ve got to be really conscious of that, really, in this situation.”
Carrick did not provide further details on Gabriel’s position or United’s efforts to retain him. His comments instead focused on the need to handle the matter carefully because of the player’s age.
United would ideally avoid losing one of their most highly regarded young players, particularly given the club’s tradition of developing academy talent. However, Carrick’s remarks suggested that the circumstances behind Gabriel’s situation may not be fully known publicly.
