'It's simply not true' - Stefan Borson reacts to JJ Gabriel development at Man United

JJ Gabriel's reason for wanting to leave Manchester United is not money-related despite new stories emerging.

That is according to former Manchester City financial adviser Stefan Borson, who exclusively told Football Insider that the 16-year-old is unlikely to be causing a scene over a yearly salary of £1million.

The midfielder has only just turned 16 years of age, but all signs point towards him seeking an exit, having requested to deregistrate with the Red Devils.

Several European giants are keeping tabs on the situation, including Real Madrid, Arsenal, PSG, Bayern Munich and Chelsea. Of course, United want to keep hold of him.

Keith Wyness has told Football Insider that Spain is a "very likely" destination for the teenage superstar, who already has a hat-trick in the UEFA Youth League against Sabah FK this season.

All parties are caught in an incredibly difficult situation, and rumours that the player is simply holding out for a £20,000-a-week wage are being labelled as complete nonsense.

JJ Gabriel staying at Man United would be 'very odd'

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Borson refuses to believe that JJ Gabriel's situation is about money, especially when it's so little compared to other players his age.

"I think the story isn't true because it's an absolute given that he'd be paid £1m-a-year. That's what a player like him would be paid," he said.

"Some of these guys are paid £30,000-£40,000-a-week, which is obviously significantly more than £1m-a-year. So I don't think it's not just about money.

"I don't believe that really. The story seems to have got a bit beyond that anyway. It would be very odd now for him to say, 'Yeah, I actually do want to stay. It was always just about getting £20,000-a-week'.

"I think it's unlikely. For whatever reason, the truth is that he wants to go somewhere else."

How much could Man United earn from JJ Gabriel's exit?

JJ Gabriel is clearly a very exciting talent, notching 28 goals and six assists in 35 appearances for United's Under-18s last term, aged just 15.

He has wasted no time in 2026-27 either, racking up four goal contributions in two games for the Under-21s already, but Man United look set to lose him.

And another frustrating layer of the story is that any fee from his departure is unlikely to match what he could be worth in the future.

Borson believes that, were he to move to another Premier League team, United's compensation fee would only be in the region of £100,000-£150,000.