Highly rated 15-year-old striker JJ Gabriel is on the verge of leaving Manchester United.

Even though he was only 14 when the season began, he won the Premier League Under-18 Player of the Year award last term, 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 night's Carabao Cup tie with Brighton.

The precise issues have not been outlined but 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 United.

The club have not yet given up hope of resolving the situation given Gabriel is registered with United until 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.

United sources say they are not sure what has led to the situation developing the way it has.

Gabriel has sent a formal notice he wants to cancel his registration with immediate effect, but United can challenge the request.

Gabriel does not turn 16 until 6 October, when he would be able to sign a scholarship agreement.

Born in London, Gabriel scored twice on his debut for United's Under-18 side when he was just 14.

He was an integral part of the United side that reached both the FA Youth Cup and Premier League Under-18 finals last season.

Gabriel moved into the club's Premier League 2 squad this season and scored sensational goals in his first two games.

For a club that prides itself on youth development, Manchester United are facing embarrassment if they cannot resolve the situation that has led Gabriel to the brink of leaving.

United have known for some considerable time they have a rare talent in their midst. "The best 15-year-old in Europe," was how the forward was described by one United source recently, while former interim boss Darren Fletcher said: "The world is his oyster."

The noticeable thing about Gabriel is his willingness to try and beat an opponent at close quarters and the speed with which he can get a shot off.

He has a slight frame but has made an impact through his technique, his balance and his quick feet.

United have been desperate to keep him. It is why he ended up in the directors' box with his family for the opening game of last season against Arsenal and why he got to meet Sir Alex Ferguson on another Old Trafford trip.

Wilcox and Berrada were both involved in the high-level talks that persuaded Gabriel to remain at United in the summer of 2025, at a point where he could have explored other options.

For a start, the idea of winning the major youth prizes with the Old Trafford outfit appealed to 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.

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.

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.

While their ages are different, in terms of impact, Gabriel's exit would have echoes of Paul Pogba, who refused to sign a contract at United as a 19-year-old in 2012 because he felt there would not be enough opportunities for him under Sir Alex Ferguson, who did not get on with the midfielder's agent Mino Raiola.

Pogba signed for Juventus. It cost United £89m to get him back in 2016. It remains a club record.

What happens now is open to debate. If Gabriel is cleared to cancel his registration, there will be a queue of Europe's biggest clubs jostling to sign him.

World governing body Fifa has a training compensation scheme that would mean United benefit financially, but nothing like to the value Gabriel could reach - and it is pretty clear they would much prefer the player to stay with them.