BBC: Carrick’s incomprehensible decision may have pushed JJ Gabriel out of Man Utd

Manchester United head coach may have inadvertently played a role in alienating the club's teenage jewel, JJ Gabriel.

The 15-year-old is widely considered the most exciting English player of his age . After conquering the under-18s level last season, he was promoted to the under-21s this season.

Sadly for MUFC supporters, they received shocking news on Tuesday, as it was revealed that Gabriel has requested his departure .

Did Carrick's choices prompt JJ Gabriel desire to leave?

(Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

In his latest piece for the BBC , Man Utd correspondent Simon Stone delved into the situation.

The veteran journalist revealed that United have the young forward under a scholarship contract until the end of the season (as he remains too young to sign a professional contract), but he is allowed to leave the club to join a foreign club in October thanks to his European Union passport.

JJ hails from an Irish father (of Trinidad and Tobago heritage) and a Greek-Cypriot mother.

The report also revealed that Gabriel and his entourage were left irritated by some of the promises that weren't fulfilled.

The striker has been occasionally training with the first team since Ruben Amorim's reign, but he was expected to earn more playing time in pre-season than the few minutes he received against Atletico Madrid .

Gabriel was also disgruntled about being left out in favour of 18-year-old Tynan Thompson, who was played 45 minutes in the friendly against Leeds United , despite having only arrived at the club.

Stone adds that the final straw may have been the teenager's Champions League exclusion. Due to his tender age, Gabriel would have only been eligible to play in the UEFA competition had the club registered him on its A list.

That would have allowed him to feature in the 4-0 victory over Sabah, especially when the game was sealed in the second half.

However, Carrick inexplicably selected Manuel Ugarte instead, even though the Uruguayan will remain on the sidelines for the bulk of the campaign.

It should be noted that the registration window opens again in January, meaning that the manager could have kept Ugarte out of the squad during the first half of the season, before reintroducing him later in the campaign.

Is Man Utd's slow & steady approach justified?

At this stage, it appears that United and Gabriel's entourage have contrasting opinions regarding the timing and pace.

While the teenager feels he's ready for prime time, the club is reluctant to thrust him into the action, believing he has yet to reach the required physical level.

Perhaps each side has a valid point, but the issue for Man Utd is that the player and his family hold all the cards due to the lack of a professional contract.

So unless INEOS can somehow convince Gabriel that staying at Carrington is in his best interest, the fans should brace themselves for some dire news in the coming weeks.

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