Manchester United

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Had the situation worked out differently, 15-year-old JJ Gabriel would have been preparing for his Manchester United debut tonight and potentially becoming the club's youngest player.

Instead, the young forward is in limbo, having asked United for his registration to be cancelled, which would allow him to join one of the many clubs across Europe who are very keen to sign him.

The crux of the issue goes back to what he feels were promises that have been made around a pathway to the first team, specifically in pre-season, that weren't honoured – Gabriel was part of four squads but only featured for eight minutes. He travelled to Norway for the meeting with Rosenborg on 24 July but didn't get on, even though head coach Michael Carrick made 11 substitutions - including five players who have since left the club, either on loan or permanently.

Then Gabriel was not registered for the Champions League encounter with Sabah FK last week. He would have needed to have been on Uefa's A list of players, but was omitted, even though Manuel Ugarte – who is injured and won't be available until after the league phase when players can be re-registered - and 18-year-old new arrival Tynan Thompson, were named.

So, while United sources are adamant it was intended Gabriel would have been involved against Brighton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, sources close to him had no confidence he would actually get on the pitch.

United say they feel the situation can be rectified, and chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox are involved. They also say they will not release Gabriel from his registration, which runs to the end of the season.

It will be interesting to see how the situation unfolds.

Umir Irfan
Football tactics correspondent

Manchester United have a problem: the more possession they have of the football, the less likely they are to win.

Under Michael Carrick, they have averaged 1.5 points-per-game when they have had more than 50% possession.

When they have had less than 50% possession, that figure shoots up to 2.6 points-per-game.

So why is this? I've explained why Manchester United have become less likely to win when they have more of the ball below...

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on the news that JJ Gabriel could leave Manchester United:

Here are some of your comments:

Christine: This needs sorting out quickly. You do not let generational talents leave. This is not the celebrated youth academy policy that was simply the best. Whatever it is, deal with it.

Royston: No surprises that other clubs are tapping him up but I sense there's foul play. It will be a massive loss to United should he leave. The club hierarchy should do everything within its power to hang on to him. That's a £150m player in the making, should he grow into his full potential.

Ryan: No player is bigger than the club. If they think they are, they know where the door is.

Jacob: The fact it's making news shows just how talented this young lad is. It's clear somebody somewhere has been whispering in his ear. Sure, the club has been a mess, but we are on the up with some very talented young players coming through. The grass isn't always greener. He won't get much exposure in any other first team at a top club. He definitely needs to stay and the club need to figure out why he wants to leave and offer him better.

Daniel: You've got a 15-year-old kid being fast-tracked into being around the first team of a Champions League-level club and it's not enough apparently. It's a massive red flag. You just hope that the people around the lad are not just looking at him with pound signs in their eyes. He wouldn't be the first or last young talent to not make it due to bad advice.

Image source, Getty Images

And here are some of your views on the club's midfield rebuild after BBC Sport's pundits debated it on Monday Night Club:

David: I agree on an underwhelming transfer window. Don't mind Tielemans. Santos, I think, was a waste of money. I'd rather have bought a full-back. As for Baleba, a friend of mine who is a Brighton fan says if he plays to his ability, we will love him but there is a 'but' as he can make mistakes on the edge of his own penalty area. For me, I'd give the window a 6 out of 10 but if Baleba comes good will rise to a 7.5.

Christine: There is nothing wrong with the summer signings. All of them are quality players. The issue isn't the quality of the player, it's Carrick insisting on playing Tielemans and Mainoo together and then, when that's not working, putting Fernandes in the midfield role, and we all know he can't play in that position. Ineos has brought in Santos, who played brilliantly in pre-season, and now he can not get a kick of the ball and he is a far better player in that number six role than Fernandes. Carrick needs to understand Manchester United are not a mid-table Championship club like Middlesbrough, where if you lose there's always the next game. Do not be under any illusion that the issues are not the summer signings, it's much deeper than that. The manager is simply not good enough. He shows no passion and his understanding of the game is poor. There should be a bomb squad. Some players, you know who they are, should be nowhere near Manchester United and that is the issue.

Lea: It's not so much that it's underwhelming, it's more that the likes of Wilcox and Berrada seem to think that Luke Shaw didn't need help at left back and that Sesko didn't need a backup strike partner. Plus, the fact that they were lazy enough to sign a player they scouted last year, instead of new prospects.

Manchester United have their sights on 24-year-old Everton and England defender Jarrad Branthwaite again, after his return to action following injury problems. (Football Insider, external)

Real Madrid striker Endrick could be available in the January transfer window, with Manchester United among those interested in the Brazilian 20-year-old. (AS via Teamtalk, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

For a start, the idea of winning the major youth prizes with the Old Trafford outfit appealed to JJ Gabriel. In addition, a pathway towards the first team was outlined, starting with appearances in senior training sessions, initially under Ruben Amorim and then Michael Carrick.

There was speculation around a first-team debut last season, which could only be in the FA Cup as Gabriel was not old enough to feature in the Premier League.

Darren Fletcher, Gabriel's coach for the under-18 team, and who decided to use the youngster centrally rather than in his favoured wide role, believing he would find more space to use his natural ability, was in interim charge for the third-round tie with Brighton in January 2026 but decided it was too early to play Gabriel.

• Read more on Gabriel's possible exit

Manchester United's defeat meant there was no further opportunity for Gabriel in a senior match.

Nevertheless, as he was now a regular presence at training, it was anticipated Gabriel would feature during United's pre-season programme.

His absence from the initial trip to Helsinki for a meeting with Wrexham on 18 July was put down to the date he returned for pre-season training. He was part of four squads out of five after that, but played only once, for eight minutes against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm on 1 August.

Gabriel had a couple of trademark runs and shots but, as he was taking virtually his first touch, he was also clattered by Uruguay skipper Jose Maria Gimenez. The force of the challenge from behind sent Gabriel sprawling and was a reminder why some at United felt the youngster was not yet physically strong enough to play at senior level.

Did that relative lack of action sow the seeds of discontent? Not only did some of Gabriel's long-standing academy team-mates get more exposure in pre-season, but another attacking player, 18-year-old Tynan Thompson, was given a 45-minute senior debut against Leeds at Croke Park, three weeks after his arrival from Tottenham.

It was still felt Gabriel was likely to become United's youngest ever player this autumn and probably in the EFL Cup.

However, while the third-round draw delivered an Old Trafford rematch with Brighton, United's Champions League schedule opened up another avenue.

It is conceivable Azerbaijan champions Sabah FK could be the least difficult home game Carrick's side have this season.

United were 3-0 up at half-time and Carrick used all five substitutes by 72 minutes.

But Gabriel wasn't among them. As with Max Dowman at Arsenal last season, Uefa's registration rules meant as he was only 15, Gabriel could only feature if he was named on United's A list of players.

It is not entirely clear why it didn't happen. United did submit a maximum 25-man squad to Uefa, but among them was midfielder Manuel Ugarte, who will not play until after the registration window opens again in January because of his knee injury. Thompson was also in.

Was it an oversight? Did United think it would be better for Thompson to be included given Gabriel can be registered on the B list next month when he is 16?

Either way, the chance of a debut in that game and a place in United's history books as the club's youngest player - a status currently held by goalkeeper David Gaskell, who was 16 years and 19 days old when he played for the first time in 1956 - was lost.

Brighton was the next opportunity. United sources are adamant it was going to happen. Now it will not.

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Referees' chief Howard Webb has admitted that the video assistant referee (VAR) did not even consider whether Enzo Fernandez was offside for Erling Haaland's controversial winner in Sunday's Manchester derby.

Speaking on the first edition of 'Match Officials Mic'd Up' of the season, Webb said he was "really disappointed" with the error made by the VAR Matt Donohue and his assistant Blake Antrobus.

Manchester City striker Haaland thought he had scored the only goal of the game at Old Trafford in the 60th minute, but it was disallowed on the field for offside.

A VAR review found Haaland was just onside, and the goal was awarded.

But it immediately became apparent that the video officials had made an error in failing to identify an offside offence by Fernandez, diving at the ball in a central position and interfering with opponents.

"I was really disappointed with this outcome. We all are," said Webb, Premier League refereeing body Pro Ref's chief refereeing officer.

"None more so than the officials themselves. They take a lot of personal pride in what they do and they're obviously hurting now, having fallen short in this situation.

"They'll not be officiating again until after the international break."

One of the questions which many supporters have asked is how the VAR team could possibly reach the conclusion that Fernandez did not commit an offside offence.

The VAR gets super-focused on Haaland," said Webb, who had already been in contact with Manchester United to share the VAR audio and video.

"He establishes he's onside, he thinks that's a good goal.

"He doesn't truly evaluate the full impact of Fernandez's position. He has a look to see if he touches the ball, because then that relates to potentially knocking it to Haaland, who goes on to score.

Read more on the controversial decisions in Sunday's Manchester Derby

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United sources say they are not sure what has led to the situation of JJ Gabriel - who is on the verge of leaving the club - developing the way it has.

The 15-year-old striker has sent a formal notice saying he wants to cancel his registration with immediate effect. United can challenge the request.

It is understood Gabriel did not train with Michael Carrick's squad at the end of last week amid issues in the relationship between the player's family and the club.

United have not yet given up hope of resolving the situation, given Gabriel has a contract that runs to the end of the season. Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox are directly involved in discussions with the player's family, which underlines how seriously the club regard the situation.

Even though he was only 14 when the 2025-26 season began, Gabriel won the Premier League Under-18 player of the year award, in addition to being named United's Under-18 player of the year.

He made his senior debut for United in their pre-season game against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm last month, scored a hat-trick on his Uefa Youth League debut last week and had been expected to make his competitive bow in Wednesday's Carabao Cup tie against Brighton.

What's your reaction to this news?

Let us know here

Sophie Trifonoff
BBC Sport journalist

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick spoke to the media to preview Wednesday's Carabao Cup third-round tie against Brighton at Old Trafford (20:00 BST kick-off).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On squad rotation for Wednesday night's match, he said: "It's important for us to win football matches, and it's important that we manage the squad as well and keep everyone up to speed, keep everyone ready, keep everyone part of it. But we're certainly going into Wednesday trying to win the game."

• On how his side will move on from Sunday's derby loss, Carrick said: "We've still got to look at it for ourselves, and we've got to win games. We have done, we've won a lot of games, and we need to continue to do that. I understand it's a new season, it's a fresh season, and the points tally right now is not what we want it to be. I'm not hiding from that, but it's more of winning games, getting that feeling, getting the habit. It's easier said than done, of course it is, but we're capable of it."

• On when new signing Carlos Baleba will be fit, he said: "He'll be back in and around the group at some point over the next week or so, so that means after internationals, he should be in good shape."

• On what he will add to the team, Carrick said: "He came being injured and then he's desperate to get out there and be part of the group and training fully with the boys. I've said before, obviously, he's a quality player, that's why we brought him, and he balances off the dynamics of the midfield particularly well."

• On the importance of winning trophies this season, he said: "Trophies is the beauty and the feeling of winning, it's what we're in football for, what we're in sport for, and certainly what I'm at this club for is to try and win."

• He added: "It's not straightforward, and you can't decide you want to win and you go and win. Of course not. But it's important, and I think trophies and achieving things and giving supporters that feeling of the emotion of that is important, definitely."

Listen to live commentary of Man Utd v Brighton on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds on Wednesday

Got a question about Man Utd? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts

On the latest episode of BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, the panel discussed Manchester United's business in the summer transfer window.

The Observer's Rory Smith said it is harsh to say that their summer transfer window was underwhelming, adding that the signings they made weren't "unsensible".

"We have criticised them for years for following fads, thinking short term or doing things reactively," Smith said. "They didn't get involved in a ridiculously inflated market. They picked players who we probably all thought [would work]. "

When challenged on this by presenter Mark Chapman, Smith added: "They have clearly got an issue when they are expected to dominate the game. That is exacerbated when you're against a team with 10 men [Manchester City] who have to sit in and wait for their chances."

How do you feel about the midfield changes? Tell us here

Listen to the full episode of Monday Night Club on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

On the latest episode of BBC Radio Manchester's The Devils' Advocate podcast, co-hosts Gaz Drinkwater and Joe McGrath unpicked United's derby defeat.

Drinkwater said: "It was a game that, once again, showed Manchester United's lack of character, lack of experience and lack of ability to rise to an occasion when the impetus is on them. This is what worries me - whenever this United team are expected to do something they fall flat on their face.

"These players are great when they're acting on instinct. When the game is chaos this team, and certain individuals in this team, grow into that because they don't have to think too much.

"But when they're given time to think - as Manchester City gave them they went down to 10 men and quite rightly sat a bit deeper and let Manchester United play with the ball - the United players had too much time on the ball.

"Quite simply, when they have too much time to think about it, they make the wrong decisions or don't make any decisions. The creativity was astoundingly poor."

Listen to latest edition of The Devils' Advocate on BBC Sounds

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Speaking in his news conference after Sunday's game, new Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca accepted Phil Foden's red card made the game more difficult for his side.

However, he also highlighted why he knew it would also be a problem for Manchester United.

"They are a team that loves transitions and space in behind," he said.

"With 10 players, we just dropped and waited for them, so we didn't concede any transitions and didn't concede any space in behind. That is why the game became more difficult for us and for them."

United have been more effective as a counter-attacking team since Jose Mourinho arrived at the club over a decade ago.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer wanted to change it, but never quite got there. The same, to an extent, is true of Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim, both of whom came to United after achieving success in a domestic league where their side dominated the opposition.

As a player, Michael Carrick liked to get on the ball and not give it away. It is fair to assume that is what he wants from his players.

Keeping the ball is one thing. Having the vision and skill to keep possession and create chances against opponents quite prepared to sit in, deny space and keep their shape is another.

United's summer recruitment strategy was based around their midfield. Yet, with Youri Tielemans yet to find top form, Carlos Baleba still to make his debut and Andrey Santos dropped to the bench after the opening game at Hull City - and not used at all against City - the overall impact of their £155m summer spend has been limited.

At the same time, with Luke Shaw's 41-game run of consecutive Premier League starts coming to an end, there was no fresh back-up at left-back, as most observers expected.

And the introduction of Joshua Zirkzee – someone who had been available for transfer all summer – for Marcus Rashford seven minutes from time as one of only two United substitutes, gave a strong indication the overall depth in Carrick's squad is not at the level required.

Read more on the questions for Man Utd here

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

Image source, Getty Images

In the Manchester derby there were two huge calls and, again, VAR somehow managed to get both wrong. Well, the first was at the very least morally wrong as opposed to totally wrong by the letter of the law.

Bruno Fernandes sneakily kicked Phil Foden while the Manchester City man was defenceless on the ground. That should have been a clear yellow card or maybe a red, but the officials back at Stockley Park either ignored it or didn't see it. Out of anger, Foden actioned his knee towards Fernandes' stomach, without catching him in any meaningful way.

The referee saw this as violent conduct after the Manchester United player writhed around in what looked suspiciously like feigned agony. This was precisely the sort of behaviour the new rules are trying to stop. Foden had the common decency not to do this when he was kicked but paid the price for his honesty.

A booking for both would have sufficed, but Fernandes was exonerated while Foden exited. Foden was foolish but not violent and the VAR should have helped the referee.

Fortunately, the football gods were watching over the officials again and presented City with Erling Haaland's winning goal to recalibrate the moral imbalance, but once again VAR managed to get it wrong, as has now been admitted.

Spotting that Haaland was onside was brilliant officiating. I thought he was well offside even after three or four viewings, so well done on that call, lads.

Unfortunately, they managed to miss the glaringly obvious offside in the same move when Enzo Fernandez clearly put Lisandro Martinez off his defending duties. This was a stunning oversight in such a huge moment. No player or former player would fail to see that this was a clear infringement.

For those of us who habitually defend VAR, it was a dark weekend even if they do still get many more right over a season than they get wrong.

As for fairness, happily it won through in the end. United fans may grumble, but going down to 10 men galvanised City.

Bruno's theatricals didn't win the game, they contributed to them losing the derby.

Pat Nevin writes weekly in the Football Extra newsletter. If you're outside the UK and would like to receive it, sign up here.

A new episode of BBC Radio Manchester's The Devils' Advocate podcast is available to download and listen to on BBC Sounds.

Co-hosts Gaz Drinkwater and Joe McGrath reflect on Manchester United's derby defeat by Manchester City and ponder how Michael Carrick's side can bounce back after such a disappointing afternoon.

Listen below or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

Explore all Manchester United content on BBC Sounds

Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Bruno Fernandes won the PFA and Football Writers' Player of the Year awards last season for an outstanding campaign when he scored nine goals and claimed a Premier League record 22 assists.

So far this season, he has scored three times and has one assist. The goals record is good, but the assists are not. More importantly, his overall impact seems to have dipped.

Some observers felt he looked tired against Manchester City, which only heightened questions around his involvement against Azerbaijan champions Sabah FK in the Champions League.

Despite their lowly ranking, it was understandable why Michael Carrick would take no chances with his team selection as United returned to Europe's elite competition after a two-year absence.

However, with his side three goals up at the break and knowing there was a three-day turnaround to the City game, it was puzzling why Carrick elected to leave his skipper on the pitch for the full 90 minutes as he chose to use all five substitutes.

Now into the final year of his contract, which United have the option to extend to the summer of 2028, a continued over-reliance on Fernandes is a concern.

Read more on the questions for Carrick here