Gabriel in Man Utd team photo but no hint of reconciliation

JJ Gabriel has been included in Manchester United's official team photo for this season but there remains no hint of a reconciliation with the club as new details of his efforts to leave Old Trafford emerge.

The teenage forward - who turns 16 on Tuesday - features in the photographs that were released on Monday.

It is understood the pictures were taken on 8 September - two days before he played his final game for the club and informed them of his intention to leave.

It is virtually certain his next involvement in a United game will be as an opposition player.

United still hold his registration and, according to sources close to Old Trafford, the club have made multiple attempts to reconcile the situation as part of their duty of care to the teenager. So far, it has been to no avail.

Gabriel is now a target for several of Europe's top clubs, with Real Madrid and Barcelona among those taking a keen interest. He now has a European Union passport, which is thought could smooth his passage to the continent.

However, while no clubs have approached United so far, they would consider legal action if any evidence of an illegal inducement by a club or agent - that would contravene regulations in relation to young players - was to emerge.

While tensions between Gabriel's camp and United had been simmering for a number of months, sources have told BBC Sport the player's decision to seek a move away was ultimately triggered by his non-inclusion in Michael Carrick side for the Champions League encounter with Azerbaijani champions Sabah FK on 10 September.

The youngster's camp had expressed a desire for Gabriel to be used as a substitute against Sabah - which, on paper, was the easiest of United's league-phase games.

Sources say the prospect of the Londoner coming on against Brighton in the EFL Cup on 16 September was also discussed, with United officials subsequently insistent that was the plan.

Had he played in either match, Gabriel would have become United's youngest ever player.

However, by the time the encounter with Fabian Hurzeler's side arrived, the striker had already told the club of his intention to quit and had left the country.

Gabriel could not play against Sabah because he had not been registered on United's Uefa A list of players when it was announced on 3 September. The precise reasons for this have not been made clear.

It did not prevent him scoring a hat-trick in a Uefa Youth League game against them at Leigh Sports Village earlier on 10 September. While he has not been back to United since, it is not clear whether anything significant happened after that game.

For their part, United believe they made it clear they view Gabriel as immensely important to their first-team future, even though sources have indicated the player did not report for the start of the academy's pre-season training schedule at the beginning of July - a week earlier than the senior squad - despite being asked to do so.

Sources also say they lobbied the Premier League to allow the forward to use "JJ Gabriel" on the back of his shirt - which they believe underlined their commitment to the academy prospect.

Gabriel's real name is Joseph Junior Andreou O'Cearuill - but he is reported to have changed his name for commercial purposes.

In addition, United say they have provided Gabriel with first-team care and services - included regular meetings with senior coaches and nutritionists.

That he was included in the senior team photo is also viewed as further evidence of their commitment to his development and transition into first-team football.

When Gabriel committed himself to United in the summer of 2025, the lure of breaking through at United, and the targets he could aim for, was strong.

He was only 14 at the time but already he was looking towards the first team. Within a couple of months, Gabriel was called into senior training sessions by Ruben Amorim.

Expectation grew to such an extent that interim boss Darren Fletcher was asked if it was possible the forward could make his competitive bow in the FA Cup third-round tie with Brighton in January.

Fletcher - then Gabriel's coach at under-18 level - said no, believing the youngster wasn't physically ready.

However, as he continued to excel at under-18 level, it seemed a case of when, not if, Gabriel would be given his chance.

He ended the 2025-26 campaign as the Premier League's Under-18 player of the year and picked up the same award at United. It seemed certain he would be involved at the start of pre-season, when the majority of United's senior players would be absent after their World Cup exertions.

What happened instead solidified existing doubts of those close to Gabriel that United were the right club for him.

First, he was not part of Carrick's squad for the trip to Helsinki to face Wrexham in a friendly. On 24 July, he was an unused substitute against Rosenborg in Trondheim, a match in which Carrick made 10 outfield changes. Five of those players have since been sold or loaned out.

Gabriel finally got his chance against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm on 1 August, when he replaced Bryan Mbeumo for the final eight minutes.

That turned out to be it. He was on the bench for the final two games against Leeds and AC Milan, but did not get on. Against Leeds, former FA Youth Cup team-mate Dan Armer and 18-year-old newcomer Tynan Thompson were both introduced.