Michael Carrick has given his thoughts on JJ Gabriel's situation at Manchester United, urging caution over coverage of the 15-year-old after his representatives formally asked the club to cancel his registration with immediate effect.
Carrick was asked about Gabriel following United's 3-2 Carabao Cup third-round defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, which came in the same week the registration request became public.
Why Michael Carrick Addressed JJ Gabriel's Situation After Brighton
The United head coach did not confirm or deny the details, instead highlighting Gabriel's age. He told Sky Sports:
"We have to be a little bit careful on that one," Carrick said. "He's a 15-year-old boy. It's more about the welfare, the care, and the attention of JJ as a child, really. He's certainly a young man."
Carrick did not deny that Gabriel had asked to leave and did not provide details about the situation. Instead, he urged caution over the level of attention surrounding the teenager.
"The situation is what it is, but we have to be careful about the exposure and how much we jump on that," he said.
Carrick's comments represent Manchester United's first direct response since reports of Gabriel's request first surfaced.
What JJ Gabriel's Registration Request Means For Manchester United
Gabriel and his representatives have formally asked Manchester United to cancel his registration with immediate effect, a move that would leave him a free agent.
The aforementioned outlet reported that staff at United's Carrington training base are "mystified" by what prompted the request. There is also an internal belief that the situation remains "rectifiable" given the time still available.
Gabriel had been in line to feature in the Carabao Cup tie against Brighton, which would have made him the youngest player in Manchester United's history. However, he was withdrawn from selection after the registration request became known and did not feature.
As a result, the record remains intact.
Gabriel turns 16 on October 6, and United are understood to be concerned that he could leave the club on that date and sign for an overseas club. His Irish passport could allow him to move under different registration rules from those that apply to players of his age in England.
That means the club faces a limited period to resolve the situation before Gabriel turns 16.
Why Gabriel's Recent Form Explains United's Concern
Gabriel's involvement with the first team sets his situation apart from a routine academy departure. He made his senior debut for United in a pre-season friendly against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm last month, coming on as a substitute for Bryan Mbeumo.
He had also trained with the first-team group on several occasions before that.
Gabriel's form this season has also put him in contention for further first-team involvement. He scored a hat-trick against Sabah in the UEFA Youth League and has two goals and two assists in Premier League 2.
Those performances had strengthened his case for more opportunities with the senior team before the registration request put those plans on hold. The situation remains unresolved.
United's internal view, as reported by Sky Sports, is that the request could still be reversed, but no agreement has been confirmed, and no destination club has been named. Carrick's comments provided no further clarity on Gabriel's future.
United will now have until Gabriel turns 16 on October 6 to resolve the situation.
