UEFA rule nuance exposes why JJ Gabriel’s Man Utd Champions League frustration was premature

JJ Gabriel will not be under consideration for Manchester United’s Champions League squad. But he could have been.

Manchester United head to Atletico Madrid for a big Champions League fixture. One player who will not be travelling is wonderkid JJ Gabriel, who is in the process of pursuing a move away from the club.

Gabriel could have become Manchester United’s youngest ever player – but his career is now in limbo amid his desire to leave.

According to Sky Sports, one of the reason for Gabriel’s frustration (or his representatives) was that he was not included in Manchester United’s initial Champions League squad, and missed out on facing Sabah last month. He instead playing against them in the UEFA Youth League, scoring a hat-trick.

However, Gabriel only needed to wait a little longer.

Now he has turned 16 (on October 6), he could have automatically been added to the Champions League squad on the B-list.

Gabriel could have been training with the Manchester United first team (he wasn’t), and included as part of the matchday squad tomorrow (he won’t be).

Instead, his decision to leave has cost him this opportunity.

Gabriel’s representatives felt that he should not have been kept waiting, and that United should have used a registration spot on him. It was perhaps unfortunate that United’s easiest game (vs Sabah) fell in the opening fixture.

JJ Gabriel played in pre-season vs Atletico

If JJ Gabriel’s representatives feared that he would not have been given an opportunity in tougher games, then he should have considered his only pre-season appearance.

Michael Carrick selected Gabriel to face Atletico Madrid as a substitute, a team feared across Europe for their toughness and competitive play.

Gabriel was dissatisfied by the length of his appearance (nine minutes), and lack of appearances in other games.

But instead of being unhappy at what he did not get, Gabriel should have been grateful for the chance he did receive. It was unprecedented for a 15-year-old player to get senior minutes in pre-season.

After the game, Gabriel posted a one-word message on social media, reading ‘patience’. This has been sorely lacking since.