Real Madrid are plotting a move for Manchester United academy prospect JJ Gabriel, 15, as the Spanish club look to beat rivals Barcelona to his signature. Relations between Gabriel's family and United have broken down after the player requested to leave the club.
One factor is Gabriel's limited pre-season game time. He played just once, coming on as a substitute against Atletico Madrid, and relatives are unhappy he has not yet broken into Michael Carrick's first team this season. Gabriel had been set to be included in United's squad to face Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, but that plan has now been scrapped.
Academy sources say Real Madrid, managed by Jose Mourinho, are now seen as a serious threat to Barcelona's hopes of signing Gabriel, with several of England's leading clubs aware the transfer could come down to a fight between the two Spanish giants. Gabriel holds an Irish passport, meaning he is eligible to join a European club at 16; English players are restricted from moving abroad until they turn 18.
Compensation and Barcelona's head start
The rule leaves United facing a smaller payout if Gabriel leaves for Spain now: the club would receive only around £300,000 in compensation, far less than the fee they could command from an English club. Barcelona have long been the dream destination for Gabriel and his family. During a tour of the club's facilities in August 2024, Gabriel was introduced to Lamine Yamal, who signed a shirt for him and posed for a photograph. Bayern Munich have also sent scouts to watch him play at youth level.
United's efforts to keep their wonderkid
United have no plans to tear up Gabriel's contract, which runs until the end of the season. He has started the campaign in strong form, scoring on his under-21 debut and claiming a hat-trick on his UEFA Youth League bow. He has been at United since he was 11 and was due to sign a first-year scholarship at 16, which would have automatically triggered a professional contract on his 17th birthday.
Premier League rules state that a young player's registration can only be cancelled if the club, player and parent all agree, or if the Premier League is asked to make a binding decision. It remains unclear whether Gabriel will be available when United's under-21s host Brentford at Leigh Sports Village on Friday; he did not train on either of the two previous days.
United faced a similar scare last summer, when Gabriel and his family reportedly lost faith in the project, with Manchester City and Arsenal among the interested clubs and City said to be confident of signing him. Director of football Jason Wilcox and head of negotiations Matt Hargreaves intervened and convinced the player there was a path to the first team, including a place on this summer's pre-season tour, which United delivered on.
Former manager Ruben Amorim spent hours reviewing footage of Gabriel on the team plane during the 2025 tour, while former sporting director Dan Ashworth was a strong advocate for fast-tracking him. United arranged a personal introduction with Sir Alex Ferguson in December, which Gabriel described as a "great honour." Recruitment chief Christopher Vivell also worked to make the teenager feel central to the club's future.
Gabriel went on all but one of this summer's pre-season trips, has trained regularly with the first team and impressed senior players including Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo, Andrey Santos and Marcus Rashford. Sources close to the player did not respond to a request for comment.
Bruno Fernandes contract talks continue
United are not panicking over captain Bruno Fernandes' contract despite talks reaching a stalemate. Fernandes, nominated for the Ballon d'Or after winning the PFA Player of the Year award, has nine and a half months left on his £220,000-a-week deal, though United hold the option to extend it by a year. Insiders say the club are relaxed given the time still available to agree new terms.
Fernandes, who turned 32 last week, joined from Sporting Lisbon in 2020. Last year United were ready to accept a bid of more than £100million from Al-Hilal, but Fernandes turned down personal terms worth around £200million over three years and later said he felt "hurt" that the club were willing to sell him. His £56.7million release clause expired in July, and Galatasaray were reported to have offered to double his wages plus a £3.5million signing-on fee. Unless United agree new terms before the end of the year, Fernandes will be free to speak to foreign clubs from January.
Man United renew interest in Jarrad Branthwaite
United have renewed their interest in Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite as they prepare to rebuild their back line. Contact has been made with the 24-year-old's representatives, and United could move for him in January or next summer. United had two offers of up to £50million for Branthwaite rejected by Everton in 2024 and signed Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich instead.
De Ligt has been out for nearly a year following back surgery, while Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez are both out of contract next summer, though United can activate one-year extensions for each. Luke Shaw is also set to become a free agent in June with no indication he will stay. United may offer a player as part of any deal for Branthwaite, though it is unclear if Everton would sell after banking more than £80million from the sales of Iliman Ndiaye and Beto this summer.
Club denies players favour VIP fans
United have denied claims that players were told not to sign autographs for supporters without VIP packages. A video of Noussair Mazraoui being interviewed by TNT Sports before United's game against Sabah last week went viral after team-mates were seen greeting fans on the VIP side of the players' entrance. The club said hospitality guests have had a designated viewing area for team arrivals since last season, but that players are under no obligation to stop for anyone.
Under Carrick, players hold a pre-match meeting in the dressing room, meaning most do not stop before kick-off, though several, including Diogo Dalot and Fernandes, regularly sign autographs after matches. Under-18s coach Darren Fletcher reacted angrily last week after a fan abused him for not granting every autograph request, warning that such abuse discourages players from stopping at all.
Benjamin Sesko's injury and return to the Slovenia squad
Slovenia manager Bostjan Cesar has backed United's handling of striker Benjamin Sesko's shin injury, describing it as "quite a serious injury." Sesko, who joined United in a £74million deal last year, has not played for his country in almost a year, missing a goalless World Cup qualifier against Switzerland as well as friendlies against Hungary, Montenegro, Cyprus and Croatia.
Sesko withdrew from the Slovenia squad in March after United said they were "carefully managing the issue," prompting Cesar to insist his own medical staff assess the player in Ljubljana. Cesar has since named Sesko in his squad for Nations League games against Scotland, North Macedonia and Switzerland. "I'm very happy that he's back in a competitive rhythm and the injury is finally repaired," Cesar said. "I have spoken to him and I believe Benjamin Sesko will come to the camp. I've been aware of the situation with his injury since March. It was quite a serious injury, and I think they handled it altogether in the right way to get him into the training process so slowly. For me as a coach, but also for all of us, for the whole of Slovenia, it is very important that Benjamin is now healthy and that he comes back to the national team after a long time."
Sesko was given extra time off by United over the summer and has scored twice in five games since returning. He could start against Brighton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.
Andrey Santos waiting for his chance
United's £50million summer signing Andrey Santos could get a rare opportunity against Brighton on Wednesday. Santos started alongside fellow new arrival Youri Tielemans at Hull City on the opening weekend, but the pair struggled in a 2-0 defeat that opened the door for Kobbie Mainoo. Since playing 67 minutes against Hull, Santos has had just 16 minutes in the Premier League and 26 in the win over Sabah, a total of 42 minutes since 22 August.
With £70million signing Carlos Baleba now training at Carrington ahead of his United debut after the international break, and Carrick preferring to pair Mainoo with Tielemans in midfield, Santos knows a strong showing against Brighton could prove decisive for his hopes of regular minutes.
Supporters continue protests against ownership
Around 500 United fans marched outside Old Trafford before Sunday's Manchester derby in a protest organised by the group The 1958. Supporters in the Stretford End took down every flag and banner except one reading "The way you treat us is a disgrace." Co-owners Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Avram Glazer were present to witness the demonstration, which protesters say was sparked by a club clampdown on ticket touting that has targeted genuine supporters.
The 1958 said in a statement: "Whatever this club does to eradicate the time-served match-going Red, you know you have been on the right side of history. We will continue the fight on all fronts. Protecting the culture. Protect the traditions. Protect the match-going fan. Protect what is left for the next generation. The club simply can't get away with this level of bullying again. Our fight has always been for a full sale of the club and a change in owners, this will never change."
Academy prospect Noah Ajayi impresses
Seventeen-year-old Noah Ajayi, who continues to be tracked by clubs in his native Germany, has started the season strongly for United's under-18s and under-19s. He was considered for the first team's pre-season tour but missed most of the summer through injury. Now fit, he is expected to feature across the under-18s, under-19s and under-21s this season, and those close to him regard him as one of the academy's biggest talents, with insiders expecting him to join first-team training sessions in the coming months.
Diogo Dalot's work with the foundation
Diogo Dalot made his 250th United appearance in the Manchester derby, capping eight years at the club including a loan spell at AC Milan. The Portugal defender recently visited a Manchester United Foundation holiday camp in Partington, one of three government-funded camps the foundation runs in Salford, Stretford and Partington each summer for children aged eight to 14, offering free food and childcare alongside activities.
"It's always special to give back to the foundation," Dalot said. "It's great to see the kids enjoying themselves, playing football and having smiles on their faces. Moments like these remind me of being their age and chasing my dream."
