Man Utd Put A 15-Year-Old In The Team Photo — Days After He Asked To Leave. Awkward Doesn't Cover It

Manchester United just dropped their official squad photo, and the teenager smiling in it is very much on his way out the door. Yes, really.

JJ Gabriel, who turns 16 on Tuesday, features in the pictures released Monday, but BBC Sport reports there's no hint of a reconciliation, and that his next appearance in a United game is "virtually certain" to be as an opponent.

The Photo Plot Twist

Here's the awkward bit: the photo was taken on 8 September, per both BBC Sport and Sky Sports. That's two days before his final game for the club, when he told them he wanted out.

United see the photo as proof of their commitment. Sky says the club points to it as a message that he was part of Michael Carrick's plans. So it's either a olive branch or a very expensive time capsule. 📸

The Tea ☕

• Gabriel and his family formally asked to leave days after the photo, and he remains registered with United.
• Real Madrid and Barcelona are among the clubs interested, with Sky adding PSG and Bayern Munich to the list.
• United say they've tried repeatedly to patch things up. Gabriel's camp sees it differently.

How Did We Get Here?

According to BBC Sport, the trigger was not being in the squad for the Champions League game against Sabah FK on 10 September. His camp wanted him on the bench for what was the easiest game on paper. Playing would have made him United's youngest ever player.

Why wasn't he in? BBC says he wasn't on United's UEFA A list when it was announced on 3 September, and the precise reasons haven't been made clear. He scored a hat-trick for the youth team against Sabah that same day, which is a heck of a way to make your point.

BBC also reports that a EFL Cup debut against Brighton on 16 September was discussed, and United insist that was the plan. By then, Gabriel had told the club he was leaving and had left the country.

Two Sides, Two Stories

United's version: they gave him first-team training, a pre-season debut against Atletico Madrid, regular meetings with senior coaches and nutritionists, and even lobbied the Premier League to let him wear "JJ Gabriel" on his shirt, according to BBC Sport.

His camp's version: that Atletico debut was only about eight minutes off the bench, per both outlets, and he didn't get on in the final two friendlies against Leeds and AC Milan. Sky Sports adds that his family pulled him from reporting back with the U21s in July, believing he should only be training with the first team. United, meanwhile, believe they made their plans clear.

The sources don't agree on who's in the right, and that's the whole story.

What Happens Next?

Gabriel is reportedly in Spain, working full-time with coach Jack Hunter, per BBC Sport, and now holds an EU passport, which is thought to smooth a move to the continent. No decision is expected for a few weeks.

BBC also says no clubs have approached United so far, but the club would consider legal action if evidence emerged of an illegal inducement to a young player. That's a consider, not an accusation.

Sky stresses that duty of care is a factor given his age, which is why United keep trying to reconcile.

Your Verdict

A 15-year-old with a hat-trick, a changed name and half of Europe's giants on the phone. Was United's pathway genuinely clear, or did his camp have a point about minutes?

Team United or Team Gabriel? Sound off below.

Sources: BBC Sport | Sky Sports