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Paul Merson claims that the rule making it easier for JJ Gabriel to join a club outside England from Manchester United at 16 needs to change. Securing a European Union passport facilitates any move overseas, with FIFA approval, and Real Madrid reportedly have reached a verbal agreement to sign him. United are due training compensation after formally offering their player a scholarship earlier this year, but the fee is expected to be only around £100,000-£300,000. However, the club will consider legal action against any European club that signs Gabriel, with the player still registered to United despite a formal notification sent in September requesting its cancellation.
Merson said on Sky Sports News about Gabriel: "This kid's a good player, he's a very good player. He could be a superstar, top player; Man United will be gutted.
"This rule's got to change ... that he's allowed to go abroad, and that needs to change. Man United have worked on this kid, made him the player he is. Obviously, he'd have been gifted at the same time, don't get me wrong, but this needs to be done.
"The thing is, he's going to Real Madrid. Man United are one of the biggest clubs in the world; he's going to the biggest club in the world, the biggest club. There's not a player in the world who wouldn't go to Real Madrid. You ask any player who's playing in the Premier League: if Real Madrid comes for you, you rarely turn Real Madrid down.
"Great opportunity for the kid, but I still think that rule might have to change; otherwise, this is not the first time it's going to happen. You've got to remember, look at Rio Ngumoha; he was at Chelsea two years ago, and he left Chelsea, so it happens.
"It'll happen all the time, but I think that rule's gotta change, in my opinion, and give these academies a chance where they're putting in a lot of hard work, just for someone to go: 'I'm leaving now'. I ain't sure if that's right, leaving by going abroad and playing when he's been there for a long time."
Gabriel joined United at the age of 11 after previously playing in the academies of Arsenal, Chelsea and West Ham United. The teenager from Enfield previously played grassroots football in London for Top Ballerz alongside Emmanuel Eboue's son Mathis, who is at Chelsea.
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