Gabriel 'has wanted to go to Spain since he was 12' says Rooney who doubts he is Man Utd fan
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It wasn't quite yet time to panic. There was still time to salvage the situation. At least that is what she was telling himself. The reality was that it was time to panic and there wasn't time to salvage the situation, but he continued to delude himself into believing there was.
Wayne Rooney doubts JJ Gabriel is a Manchester United fan and says it has been known "since he was 12" he wanted to go to Spain.
And the United legend believes United’s decision to fight to keep Gabriel could send the “wrong message” to other academy players who remain committed to the club.
Rooney has watched Gabriel develop at close quarters over a number of years, with the highly-rated youngster playing alongside his son Kai in the academy system.
Speaking on the latest episode of Stick to United with Wayne Rooney, the former United captain said Gabriel’s desire to eventually move to Spain had been discussed for years and that his current situation should not have come as a surprise to those close to his development.
“I’ve seen JJ grow up, he’s been in Kai’s team throughout the years growing up and I think anyone close to it knew that was coming,” Rooney said.
“In fairness to Manchester United, they’ve done everything, they’ve done absolutely everything to keep him at the club.
“I think it’s been known and there’s been a desire to go and play probably in Spain. I might be wrong but this is what you’ve heard over the years.”
Gabriel, who turns 16 next month, has emerged as one of the most exciting young talents in English football and has already made his senior debut for United in pre-season.
Rooney believes the club have recognised Gabriel’s exceptional ability and treated him differently as a result, drawing on his own experience as a teenage prodigy at Everton.
“The club have treated him probably differently to the other players because he is such a special talent and I recognise, I understand that because I was that player at Everton,” Rooney added.
“I was getting that treatment at Everton where you’re getting a bit more, parents get given stuff, you get that special treatment more than the other players are getting which, as a club, you need to do to try and keep these better players.”
Despite understanding United’s efforts to retain him, Rooney admitted he would be disappointed to see Gabriel leave.
“It’s just disappointing, of course, because he’s such a top player and he’s a lovely kid,” he said.
“You never know whether it’s gone too far and whether there is a chance for him to stay. But I think everyone close to it has probably known that was going to come.”
Rooney then questioned whether there is a way back for Gabriel, arguing that United should not retain a player who no longer wants to remain at the club.
“To be honest, I’m not sure he’s a Manchester United fan,” Rooney said. “Since he’s been about 12 or 13, there has been talk of him going to play in Spain.
“So I think anyone who has been around it, this is not a surprise at all that this has happened.”
And Rooney believes keeping Gabriel against his wishes could have wider consequences within the academy.
“What I do know is there’s any young players in there who want to play for the club and regardless of age, if you don’t want to be at the club then I don’t think you should be keeping players who don’t want to be there,” he said.
“I think that sends the wrong message to the players at the club who do want to be there.”
Gabriel’s future remains unresolved, with United continuing to try to convince the teenager to stay amid reported interest from a number of major European clubs.
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It wasn't quite yet time to panic. There was still time to salvage the situation. At least that is what she was telling himself. The reality was that it was time to panic and there wasn't time to salvage the situation, but he continued to delude himself into believing there was.
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