Gabriel had been expected to make his senior debut against Brighton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, but was left out of the squad after his intention to depart became known.
The Mirror reports that Barcelona and Real Madrid are the frontrunners for his signature, with Gabriel understood to hold an EU passport that would allow him to move clubs once he turns 16 in October.
Manchester United's efforts to convince him his future lay at Old Trafford stretched back years and touched almost every part of the club's hierarchy. Here is the club's case in full, as reported by the Mirror:
1. A record-breaking opportunity. United were ready to hand Gabriel his senior debut at 15, breaking a youngest-player record held by David Gaskell since 1956. He may now instead be given a role at under-21 level, having scored twice in two Premier League 2 outings, though he did not train on Monday or Tuesday amid the latest developments.
2. Jason Wilcox and Matt Hargreaves intervened. This is not the first time Gabriel has been linked with an exit. In the summer of 2025, director of football Jason Wilcox and head of negotiations Matt Hargreaves stepped in to convince him he had a path to the first team.
3. A place on the 2026 pre-season tour. That message was reinforced when Michael Carrick included Gabriel in his squad for this summer's pre-season fixtures, where he made his first senior appearance against Atlético Madrid — though he was subsequently left off United's Champions League "A" list and is ineligible for the "B" list, barring him from European football until the new year at the earliest.
4. Rubén Amorim watched hours of his footage. Before his departure in January, Amorim spent hours reviewing footage of Gabriel during United's pre-season tour to assess his qualities, though he left before getting the chance to hand him a first-team opportunity himself.
5. Dan Ashworth wanted to fast-track him. United's former sporting director was also an admirer, and had been keen to accelerate his progress before leaving the club in late 2024. Ashworth had previously overseen Lewis Miley's rapid rise at Newcastle.
6. A meeting with Sir Alex Ferguson. In December 2025, Gabriel met the club's most decorated manager, later describing the encounter as an "honour."
7. A relaxed schedule. Gabriel was reportedly allowed multiple breaks during the season, an arrangement not always afforded to academy players, which appeared to suit him well given a return of 26 goals last season.
8. Christopher Vivell made him feel important. United's recruitment chief, a former Chelsea technical director, is said to have worked to make Gabriel feel like a focal point of the club's plans.
9. Heavy pre-season involvement. Gabriel featured in all but one of United's pre-season friendlies across several countries, though he managed only eight minutes against Atlético.
10. Carrick's regular scouting trips. The head coach made frequent visits to Leigh Sports Village to watch Gabriel play for United's age-group sides, including a 5-0 win over Ipswich in August, but urged patience over a senior debut. "We have to be a little bit careful on that one. He's a 15-year-old boy," Carrick said. "It's more about the welfare, the care and the attention of JJ as a child really."
11. Regular first-team training. Both Carrick and Amorim invited Gabriel to train with the senior squad. "If we can use every training we have to show the kids what they need to do to be here, it is important, not just for JJ but for everyone," Amorim said at the time.
Despite all of that, Gabriel's path to regular first-team football now looks set to run through a different club entirely.