Rio Ferdinand is confident that Jay Jay Gabriel has a bright future ahead, but he believes that Manchester United must take a firm stance regarding the situation with the 15-year-old forward. Recently, the young player's camp informed the club of his wish to leave.
Gabriel has been with Manchester United's academy for four years and is regarded as one of the most talented players of his generation. At just 14, he played for the U18 team, and more recently, he trained with the first team under the guidance of Michael Carrick during pre-season preparations.
Ferdinand has been following the young footballer's progress closely and holds his abilities in high regard:
Firstly, what a talent he is. It’s just incredible.
I don’t know where his ceiling is. I’ve seen him play and train, and I’ve spoken to people who have worked with him for years. There’s no doubt this lad will reach the very highest level.
However, the former United defender stresses the need to understand why Gabriel wants to leave:
We need to figure out why he wants to leave the club. Clearly, a 15-year-old isn’t making such decisions on his own. His family may have their reasons.
Perhaps they feel he should already be getting playing time. They might have been promised something and are now dissatisfied.
Ferdinand reflected on a time when Gabriel trained alongside one of the team's stars:
I remember seeing him in training – he was working on his shooting with Bruno Fernandes. He was alongside the PFA Player of the Year and one of the best midfielders in the world.
For me, at 15, that would be more than enough. But perhaps he has different ambitions and wants to play right now.
Despite Gabriel's immense potential, Ferdinand urged United not to compromise:
Manchester United should not allow a 15-year-old player to dictate terms, no matter how talented he is. However this story unfolds, the club must remain firm.
Other young players will look at this situation as an example, so the club cannot show weakness. But once again, I want to stress that I don’t know all the circumstances and would like to learn them.
Gabriel's representatives have already been in discussions with Barcelona and Real Madrid, while interest is also coming from PSG and Bayern Munich.
