Michael Carrick confirmed he is involved in conversations about JJ Gabriel's future after the 15-year-old's request to leave Manchester United made major ripples and that the team is being "careful" with the situation.
Fresh from scoring a hat trick for the Under-19s on his UEFA Youth League debut last Thursday, the highly-rated forward was set to be included in the senior squad for the first time in a competitive match on Wednesday.
But Gabriel was not involved in United's 3-2 Carabao Cup collapse to Brighton after it emerged on the eve of the tie that the teenager's camp had made a request for him to leave the Old Trafford club.
Asked about the situation surrounding the 15-year-old after the third-round loss, boss Carrick said: "I just think we've got to be really careful of the whole situation.
"He's a young boy, he's 15 and the biggest [thing] for me definitely and as a club point of view is looking after our younger players. Their welfare, their wellbeing, their exposure.
"And I think all of us we've got to be really conscious of that, really, in this situation.
"As a club, for sure, we're all involved in those conversations. I just think we've got to be very careful of that."
Sources told ESPN that Barcelona and Real Madrid are among the clubs monitoring Gabriel's stand-off with Manchester United, sources have told ESPN, with his stance opening the door to a departure next summer.
Gabriel is eligible to sign scholarship forms after his 16th birthday, which is on Oct. 6.
Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid have both been alerted to the situation, with Gabriel able to move to a European side because he has an Irish passport.
Information from ESPN writer Rob Dawson and PA was used in this report.
