Manchester United chiefs are in talks to keep JJ Gabriel at Old Trafford as Real Madrid and Barcelona continue to monitor the stand-off.
Gabriel, 15, is regarded as one of the game’s best young talents and was in contention to become the club’s youngest ever player in the Carabao Cup game against Brighton tonight.
But the teenager and his representatives rocked United this week by demanding to leave the club.
United are yet to respond to his request to cancel his registration with reports in Tuesday claiming they do not regard the situation as ‘irretrievable’ with hope it can still be rectified.
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BBC Sport now report United’s top brass are in showdown talks to try and resolve the situation.
Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox are involved in talks which they hope will result in Gabriel staying in Manchester.
But there is no shortage of clubs ready to pounce.
Real Madrid and Barcelona are among the clubs monitoring the situation with Cheslea and Manchester City also interested.
ESPN report Los Blancos would plan to immediately play him for Real Madrid Castilla – the club’s B team which currently plays in the third tier of Spanish football.
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, live sports editor
Real took a similar approach when they won the race to sign Martin Odegaard as a 16-year-old back in 2015, with the Norwegian then the most sought-after young talent in Europe.
Odegaard trained with both the Real Madrid first-team and their B ranks, playing for the latter who were managed by Zinedine Zidane.
He made his first-team debut four months after his arrival in Madrid on the final day of the 2014-15 season before returning to play for Castilla the following campaign.
Gabriel turns 16 next month when he will be eligible to sign a scholarship agreement. Clubs cannot sign players to professional contracts until the age of 17.