Roy Keane on JJ Gabriel demanding a seven-figure salary to stay at Manchester United:
“Honestly, I find this whole situation embarrassing for Manchester United. We’re talking about a 16-year-old boy who hasn’t established himself in the first team, yet the club is apparently discussing seven-figure money just to convince him to stay. What has happened to football?
If a young player is already making demands like this before he has kicked a ball properly at senior level, then maybe his mind is somewhere else. And if Manchester United are begging him to stay, that tells you everything about the way the club is being run.
United have produced plenty of talented youngsters over the years who never became stars. Talent is one thing. Proving yourself at the highest level is another. You don’t hand out enormous contracts because someone might become a superstar one day.
A million pounds or more for a 16-year-old? For doing what exactly? Winning youth matches? Scoring goals against kids his own age? Come on. Earn it first.
Manchester United need to stop acting desperate. If the boy genuinely wants to leave, open the door and let him go. No player, especially a 16-year-old, should be bigger than Manchester United.
The club needs standards again. You don’t beg young players to stay. You make them desperate to play for Manchester United.”
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