Gary Neville points finger at JJ Gabriel’s representatives for ‘nuclear option’ at Man United

Gary Neville has criticised JJ Gabriel's representatives for the way they have handled the teenager's demands to leave Manchester United.

talkSPORT understands that the talented teenager has asked to leave the Manchester giants, with La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid reportedly interested in the 15-year-old.

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The news came as a shock to United, who were looking to hand Gabriel his senior debut in Wednesday's 3-2 EFL Cup defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion, just five days after scoring a hat-trick on his UEFA Youth League debut.

Gabriel has reportedly sent in formal notice to cancel his registration at the club in order to become a free agent.

United are desperate to retain the services of a player who club legend Ryan Giggs recently dubbed a 'generational talent'.

Giggs came through the United ranks and cemented his place as a club icon, but only after they poached the Welshman from rivals Manchester City.

The Premier League side are wary about letting Gabriel depart for pastures new and seeing him develop into a world class star elsewhere, just as Giggs did.

What did Neville say?

Neville has since lambasted Gabriel's representatives for the way they have acted as the teen pushes to leave United.

"There was this big announcement from a prominent journalist that's obviously been leaked," Neville began on the latest episode of Stick to Football.

"If the club's not going to leak that, it's not in the club's interest to leak this, not on the back of the weekend.

"So, the players representatives have definitely leaked this.

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"They've decided they want to go the nuclear option and go: 'Bang, we're JJ Gabriel to leave Man United'.

"That to me is my concern is that who's representing him thinks that's good for the kid."

Keane echoed Neville's sentiments, adding: "Are you telling me he can’t wait? If you are 15 years of age and you’re talking about playing for Man United’s first team, just wait. Can you wait another six weeks if United get through the cup?

"Carrick’s under pressure. Obviously, [Sir Alex] Ferguson would throw young lads into the first team. But United, they need wins [right now].

"I don’t think United are in a position where they go: ‘We can write off a cup game tonight and play a couple of young lads'.

"'We need to get momentum into the season. If some 15-year-old is spitting his dummy out, we’ll deal with that.’"

Neville uses Dowman example

Neville went on to outline how Arsenal's protection of Max Dowman should be used as an example on how to handle the Gabriel situation.

"I just don’t see the logic from any representatives of a 15-year-old boy who think it’s a good idea to put his name in lights right now," he continued.

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"You want to try and sort of douse the flames, don’t you? You don’t want to add fuel to a fire.

"Max Dowman, if you remember last year when he came on, you know, Sky probably asked for an interview at the end of the game.

"Arsenal said no. They got him straight back into the changing room. He’s back at school on the Monday morning."