The ongoing transfer saga surrounding Manchester United's wonderkid JJ-Gabriel has intensified, and Joe Cole has weighed in on the situation.

After the 15-year-old asked Manchester United to cancel his registration earlier last week, both Joe Cole and Steven Gerrard expressed serious concerns about young JJ-Gabriel.

Gabriel, nicknamed "Little Messi," informed Manchester United earlier last week that he wanted to leave the club. According to reports, his camp is unhappy with the club and believes that promised pathways to the first team have not materialized, leading to disappointment.

Since then, Gabriel has traveled to Barcelona, where his representatives have held talks with the Catalan club, while Real Madrid continues to express interest in him.

Under Premier League rules, the teenager cannot sign a professional contract until he turns 17 on October 6, 2027, and must wait until that date this year to sign a scholarship deal.

It is certainly unusual for a 15-year-old academy player to attract such attention. On Saturday last (September 19), former Chelsea and England midfielder Cole expressed serious concerns about the rare decision the young player has made.

Next: Rio Ngumoha must comply with strict Premier League rules, while Doumanhe still has 467 days until release.

Speaking with Gerrard on TNT Sports, Cole said: "He changed his name for branding reasons, that's one thing. He and many other children have been taken out of school."

"You have to be a child first, then a footballer. The whole situation makes people at Manchester United very uncomfortable."

Although he is widely known as JJ-Gabriel, the teenager's real name is Joseph Junior Andrew Gabriel.

Cole continued: "They want to guide this child, but I must say, I've seen him a couple of times, and he is really very talented."

"I still remember the hype around my debut. My experience was also unusual because you're normally 15, 16, or 17 when you make your debut."

"The fans will be thrilled because finally one of their own is playing. But JJ-Gabriel will be under immense pressure wherever he makes his debut in the future."

Gerrard also expressed concern, admitting it "frightens" him to see young players being pushed into hasty decisions.

The former Liverpool captain said: "It's not just this incident. Overall, it frightens me in football how children might be pressured into decisions and their careers accelerated."

"I don't know the details and background of JJ-Gabriel's case, but looking at it overall, he is at one of the biggest clubs in the world. They have a history and tradition of developing excellent players."

"Manchester United certainly has top people behind the scenes, but for me the key thing is having an English manager [Michael Carrick] and an English assistant coach [Steve Holland] who can protect him at the right time and, if they believe he's ready... but if they feel he is ready, they will play him."

"It's not just that, it's football as a whole. These talented players have parents, agents, and outside influences around them, which can lead to premature pressure and rushing, and that can affect a child's career."

"That creates immense pressure. When another club watches this situation, you think: 'Yes, this child is very talented,' but are you ready to take on all the baggage and noise around him?"

"Take José Mourinho at Real Madrid, for example. Even if JJ-Gabriel were to go to Real Madrid now, would Mourinho play this child immediately? Would he be forced to promote him? You know how these top managers are; they only use a player if he has the ability to contribute to the team."

"In my opinion, they need to care about the welfare and development of this child, and Manchester United can do that; they have that tradition. I see no urgency or panic."

"I don't know what has been said or promised behind the scenes, but from the outside looking in, it feels like someone is pushing too hard, forcing it, rushing it. I don't believe that benefits this child in any way, shape, or form."

"I have to say, although I'm a Manchester United rival, I've always watched them from afar, and they have top managers and top people there. I know Michael Carrick very well, and if this child were ready, he would already be getting playing opportunities."

Next: Hours before Manchester United vs. Fulham, unexpected developments in JJ-Gabriel's move to Barcelona come to light.

Manchester United has reportedly rejected Gabriel's request to cancel his registration.

A child player's registration can only be terminated if all three parties—the club, the player, and the player's parents or guardians—agree.

The rules state: "If the parties cannot reach agreement, any relevant party can also ask the Premier League to make a binding decision on the cancellation request."

If Manchester United retains his registration, Gabriel cannot sign with another English club until at least the end of this season. However, he could circumvent these rules by obtaining an EU or Irish passport, which would allow him to sign with an EU club such as Barcelona or Real Madrid.

Übersetzt von KI.

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