JJ Gabriel, 15, travels to Barcelona as Man Utd wonderkid targets free transfer.. and has already spoken to Real Madrid

JJ GABRIEL has flown to Barcelona to hold talks as he continues to push for a Manchester United exit. Several other Euro giants are interested in the 15-year-old prodigy nicknamed ‘Kid Messi’ and signed by Nike, with a move to another Prem club unlikely. JJ Gabriel has taken the next step as he edges closer to a Man Utd exit Credit: Alamy Gabriel has travelled to Barcelona after demanding to leave Man Utd this week Credit: Reuters United turned down Gabriel’s formal request to leave this week, with club bosses trying to persuade the best young player in the country to stay at Old Trafford. That looks like an increasingly hopeless task with Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain circling as Gabriel and his entourage arrived in Spain. Sign up for the Man United newsletter Thank you! The winger, in his GCSE year but homeschooled, has already held talks with Madrid over a transfer ahead of his 16th birthday next month. Although United have Gabriel under contract until the end of this season, there is a precedent for him to move abroad after he turns 16 on October 6 if he holds an EU passport, exploiting a Fifa escape clause. He could qualify for that through his dad’s Irish connections or his mum’s Cypriot background and SunSport understands he could obtain the relevant documents to complete a move next week. In Friday’s press conference, Carrick urged restraint in conversations around Gabriel, who is not on United’s full-time programme. The United boss said: ” We have to be careful about the exposure and scrutiny. The situation will work itself out, or whatever way it’s going to work itself out. The most important thing is to make sure he’s okay.” United were set to offer lucrative scholarship terms to Gabriel next month although he now appears certain to leave, with the club likely to receive around £300,000 in compensation for a future tipped £100m star. Most read in Sport Ticket + hotel room for Man Utd games GET tickets to see Man Utd at Old Trafford with our hand-picked deals. The packages include an official match ticket and an overnight stay in a nearby hotel. Man United Home Games⚽ 10 Oct v Tottenham Hotspur — BOOK HERE ⚽ 24 Oct v Bournemouth — BOOK HERE ⚽ 3 Nov v Roma — BOOK HERE ⚽ 7 Nov v Aston Villa — BOOK HERE More games available here. *If you click on a link in this article, we will earn affiliate revenue. Barcelona have made a concerted effort to woo Gabriel and he spent part of his summer in Catalonia. United were stunned by his request to leave in the hours after the Manchester derby defeat and Gabriel hasn’t been at Carrington since he scored a hat-trick against Sabah in the Uefa Youth League last Thursday. Gabriel’s reps feel he should have been included in the Champions League tie at home against minnows Sabah. He was due to train with the first team ahead of being included in the squad to face Brighton in the Carabao Cup, when he could have become the club’s youngest-ever player. Gabriel was due to star in Man Utd’s League Cup clash with Brighton but refused to train and was left out Credit: Alamy Gabriel’s advisors believe promises of senior involvement have been broken Credit: Reuters His advisors believe promises of senior involvement have been broken, which is why they want Gabriel to move on. He played just eight minutes of first-team football in pre-season and was left out of the club’s Champions League squad, meaning he was ineligible to make his debut against Sabah. Meanwhile, new teenage signing from Spurs Tynan Thompson, 17, played more minutes than Gabriel during pre-season and was included in United’s European squad. The list also includes injured Manuel Ugarte, who is expected to be sidelined for at least nine months. United would have the opportunity to submit a new squad if they reach the knockout stages. Comment now