JJ Gabriel demands at least €1m amid Bayern interest, report says

Manchester United academy forward JJ Gabriel has told potential suitors he is seeking a seven-figure annual salary, including at least €1 million a year, according to SPORT, with the demand emerging after he turned 16 on Tuesday and amid reported interest from Bayern Munich.

Gabriel, a 16-year-old England youth international, has made clear his intention to leave Old Trafford and has not yet broken into Manchester United’s first-team squad. His camp asked United for guaranteed minutes in matches against Sabah FK, Brighton and Bournemouth, a request that was rejected and is understood to have prompted his decision to leave. Having reached his 16th birthday, the club’s prodigy is free to join a Premier League rival or move to a club elsewhere in Europe, and he holds an EU passport through Irish and Cypriot ancestry.

Multiple European clubs are said to be tracking Gabriel, with SPORT naming Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain among those monitoring the situation. SPORT reported the youngster’s salary demand as a “seven-figure salary,” specifying “at least €1m a year.” The outlet’s related social post read: "𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 | JJ Gabriel (16) has very, very high financial demands. The request is a 7-figure salary, at least €1m a year, reports @sport. 💰 pic.twitter.com/3ERXe36V9X"

Bayern’s interest has reportedly cooled because the club are not prepared to meet the figure Gabriel’s camp has requested, despite Vincent Kompany being named as an admirer of the player. The Bundesliga side, noted in the report for their record of promoting young players, are seeking direct contact with Gabriel and his father, Joe O’Cearuill, to discuss first-team opportunities and to try to persuade him to lower his wage expectations.

SPORT also stated that Gabriel is intent on joining Barcelona “at all costs,” though the Catalan club may struggle to match his salary stipulation. Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain continue to monitor developments while Bayern explore personal assurances as part of their approach.

Bayern’s reported plan to speak directly with Gabriel and his father about guaranteed pathway and minutes is the immediate next step outlined in the coverage as clubs weigh up whether to meet the financial demands or offer alternative assurances.