Gabriel wants out, and Real Madrid are ready
JJ Gabriel has handed in a letter of de-registration and told United he wants to leave (1). United have no intention of granting it, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe is personally in the fight to keep him (1).
Real Madrid are working on the deal, and reports say the 15-year-old has settled on them once he turns 16 on October 6 (4) (5) (6). Barcelona, PSG, Bayern Munich and Chelsea are all pushing too (4) (8) (11). One report has United worried about Manchester City (10).
Gabriel has stopped training with the junior sides (11).
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Pro Ref confirmed the derby goal was illegal
Erling Haaland's goal should not have stood. Pro Ref, the refereeing body, confirmed a judgement error in validating the only goal of the game (7). Manchester United 0–1 Manchester City on Sunday at Old Trafford.
That is four points from four league games. You sit 13th (form: W D W L).
Brighton at Old Trafford, then Fulham away
Your team host Brighton at Old Trafford at 21:00 CEST (1) (3). That is the one chance to reset before Sunday, September 20, when United travel to Fulham in the Premier League, 17:30 CEST.
The mood around Old Trafford is not good. Fan protests against the owners ran before and after the derby (3).
No sign Luke Shaw stays past this season
Luke Shaw's deal runs to June 2027 and there is no indication he will be at United next season (2). He turns 31, and he has started every game he has been available for under Michael Carrick (2). Patrick Dorgu and Diogo Dalot are the other options on that flank (2).
Zirkzee replacement, Branthwaite, and a defensive revamp
United have identified a £34m Real Madrid forward as a January replacement for Joshua Zirkzee (9). They are also keeping up interest in Everton centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite for January, having bid twice in the summer of 2024 (12). A bigger defensive rebuild is being reported for 2027 (13).
Fan reactions
The mood on r/reddevils is dark, and it is all about JJ Gabriel. The talk is not just that Real Madrid are circling, but that Barcelona, PSG, Bayern Munich and Manchester City are all being named in the same breath, with fans asking how a 15-year-old can walk out of the academy for nothing. A lot of the anger is pointed at the contract situation and the people who let it happen. The thread
