JJ Gabriel has surprised Manchester United by telling them he wants to leave Old Trafford.
The 15-year-old wonder kid, who is tipped as the next great product from the United youth system, is trying to become a free agent by giving United formal notice he wants to cancel his registration with the club.
United feel the situation is rectifiable and have not given up hope of persuading the forward to stay.
However, they are bemused as to what has caused Gabriel to try and leave and were planning to include him in their squad for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup tie against Brighton, when he was in line to become United’s youngest ever player.
Gabriel, who was nicknamed ‘Kid Messi’, became the youngest player to represent United in unofficial matches during pre-season.
The England Under-17 international scored a hat-trick in United’s Uefa Youth League win over Sabah last week.
United head coach Michael Carrick has described Gabriel as “a really big talent” and United’s record appearance maker Ryan Giggs has called him a “generational talent”.
Last year, he became the youngest ever winner of the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year, given to United’s academy footballers, and was also named Under-18 Premier League Player of the Season.
Read MoreMichael Carrick demands Man United use derby ‘injustice’ as fuel for Carabao Cup clash with Brighton
