Steven Gerrard fires warning to JJ Gabriel over Man Utd exit | Football

Steven Gerrard insists Manchester United is the best place for JJ Gabriel and believes Michael Carrick would play the 15-year-old if he is ready for first-team football.

Gabriel stunned United this week by demanding to leave the club and has already travelled to Spain for discussions with Barcelona, however, Real Madrid are also making a move to beat their La Liga rivals.

The 15-year-old is regarded as one of the brightest youth prospects in world football but it is understood that the player’s entourage have been unhappy with his first-team integration.

Gabriel is yet to make his senior debut for United, although he was expected to be included in Carrick’s squad this week for their Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton before he notified the club of his desire to leave.

Former Liverpool captain Gerrard has warned Gabriel that a move to Madrid would pose similar issues in terms of a pathway to regular first-team football.

‘It’s not just in this situation. Broadly, it scares me in the game that kids can now be rushed or careers can be forced,’ Gerrard told TNT Sports.

‘I don’t know the details and the background in this isolated situation with JJ Gabriel but if you look at it all he’s at one of the biggest clubs in the world. They’ve got a history and a tradition of producing fantastic players.

‘There will be top people behind the scenes at Manchester United but the big thing for me is, you’ve got an English coach [Michael Carrick] and an English assistant manager [Steve Holland] who will want to, when the time is right, and when they think he’s ready, protect him… but when they feel he’s ready they will play him.

‘Not just this situation, the game as a whole, these talents, they have parents, they have agents, outside influences that force and rush too soon, and it can affect a kid’s career.

‘It is going to add huge pressure and also if you’re another club looking into this situation you’re thinking to yourself, ‘yeah the kid is a big talent’, but do you want the baggage and the noise around it?

‘Let’s use Jose Mourinho for example at Real Madrid. Even if he goes to Real Madrid now, is Jose Mourinho going to play this kid straight away, is he going to be forced to push him? You know what these elite managers are like, they play kids when they are ready to contribute to the team.

‘In my opinion they need to look after the kid’s health and his care, but Manchester United can give him that, they’ve got a history of doing that. I don’t see the rush, I don’t see the panic.

‘I don’t know what’s been said or promised behind the scenes but from the outside this stinks to me that someone is pushing, forcing and rushing it. And I don’t think it’s going to help the kid in any way, shape or form.

‘As a say, I’m a big rival of Manchester United, but I’ve watched Manchester United from afar, there’s top coaches there, top people. I know Michael Carrick very well and, if this kid was ready, he’d be getting played.’

Just how good is JJ Gabriel?

There is good reason for the hype around JJ Gabriel. The teenager is considered to be the most exceptional young talent to progress through United’s youth ranks in recent years and across the game at youth level, he is regarded as the best player in the country born in 2010.

In addition to those Messi comparisons, his ability to effortlessly take the ball on the turn has seen him likened to Phil Foden, who progressed through the youth academy over the way at Manchester City.

Under the guidance of United’s Under-18 boss Darren Fletcher, he has developed into a lethal goal scorer, with the skill and variety in his finishing heightening the expectation around him.

Football is littered with stories of unique talents failing to make the step up to men’s football with some of United’s brightest young talents failing to make the grade. Angel Gomes, who currently holds the record of United’s youngest Premier League player in history, has carved out a decent career for himself in France having also been recognised at international level, but made just 10 more appearances for United after his debut. Shola Shoretire, the youngest player to represent the club in European competition, is currently playing for Greek outfit PAOK.

But the situation with Gabriel has felt very different. United hope the situation can still be rectified – but no matter how enormous the talent, the club cannot be seen being held to ransom by a schoolboy – or whoever is making decisions on his behalf.

Barcelona’s interest in him has already been well-documented and the teenager holds an Irish passport through his dad, former Republic of Ireland international Joe O’Cearuill, meaning any move abroad would be free of any Brexit red tape.

Tony Mogan, Metro’s Live Sports Editor

Former Chelsea and England midfielder Joe Cole added: ‘The JJ Gabriel situation at Manchester United has blown my mind, because the kid is at a fantastic club with a great reputation of bringing players through.

‘You think of the Class of ’92, right the way through. They develop and they look after players.

‘Behind the scenes with his advisors, what I don’t understand is why would he want to leave that club when he’s clearly wanted? Clearly, they want to help him push on.’

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