On Tuesday, Manchester United talent JJ Gabriel turned 16 years old, he can negotiate with any club in the EU.
JJ Gabriel, 16, has entered a crucial phase for his future after a meeting in Bayern Munich’s transfer market with his representatives. The Manchester United player turned 16 on October 6 and can now sign a professional contract with a European club, while Barcelona, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Garmain and Bayern Munich await his decision.
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The Bayern move comes after Gabriel and his family asked Manchester United to cancel his registration. The English club has so far refused and is keeping the player attached to his structure, although his future seems to be moving further and further away from Old Trafford.
JJ Gabriel faces a bidding war affected by his salary
According to information published on Wednesday by The Times and reports from Sky Sports, JJ Gabriel’s camp is demanding an annual salary of seven figures, along with a financial package that could include a signing bonus. This demand complicates negotiations with some of the interested clubs.
Bayern have already spoken to the player’s representatives, and Vincent Kompany is in favour of signing him. The German proposal involves offering him a pathway to the first team, but the club is currently reluctant to meet the wage demands of Gabriel’s camp.
The financial aspect has also limited the reach of other German teams. Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen had followed the situation, but the financial demands have cooled their position in the matter.
Barcelona and Real Madrid keep their cape open
Barcelona and Real Madrid are still among the clubs that are following JJ Gabriel. Sky Sports confirmed on October 6 that both clubs have strong interest, although the final decision still rests with the player and his family.
Real Madrid’s case is also linked to a potentially significant financial offer. The BBC reported on Wednesday that Madrid and Barça are preparing packages that will include salaries, bonuses and a signing bonus to persuade the player.
Barcelona had also already been in talks about Gabriel during September, when the player and his family were in the Barcelona area. Since then, Bayern have emerged as another direct competitor.
Manchester United continue to try to keep him despite the formal request to leave the club. Gabriel had some presence in pre-season but was not included in the Champions League A roster and only played eight minutes with the first team during the summer. However, he has scored two goals and provided two assists in Premier League 2 for the youth team, as well as a hat trick in the Youth League.
The situation also involves a legal aspect: Sky Sports reported that United could consider legal action if Gabriel ends up moving to another European club. The player is still registered with the English club while his family reviews the offers received.
The next step will be to decide which club accepts the financial terms from JJ Gabriel’s camp, and which sporting project ultimately influences the decision. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern and PSG are still in the race, but the seven-figure salary could be the deciding filter in the coming weeks.
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