Manchester United did everything in their power to retain JJ Gabriel after being left shocked in September when he demanded to leave Old Trafford. But the circumstances surrounding his departure suggest United may be better off without him.

For years, United’s dressing room has been a source of toxicity at the club, and there are few signs of that changing.

Recent attacks on the board and Michael Carrick from senior players Lisandro Martinez and Bruno Fernandes respectively have gone largely unchecked and point to an unhealthy environment behind the scenes.

It’s not the type of atmosphere in which a winning team mentality thrives, and judging by all the media reports, the circumstances surrounding Gabriel's arrival would hardly help matters. Instead, he is destined to sign for Real Madrid.

Now, it may not be the 16-year-old directly, but there’s no doubt that the wonderkid comes with complications. Instead, it may be those around him stirring up drama. But wherever the issue arises, it’s something United don’t need. That has been amply displayed over the course of the last six weeks, during which a remarkable, perhaps even unique, transfer has been played out in the media.

Gabriel, after all, has not played a minute of competitive senior football, and yet it’s his entourage calling the shots to some of Europe’s most powerful clubs.

His potential is enormous, but it remains untested at senior level. Instead, performances in youth football have generated the type of media hype that has been leveraged by those around him to help land a deal at Real Madrid that will set him up for life, regardless of his success or failure.

Man Utd can learn from PSG's Mbappe experience

Kids, after all, are not meant to leave Man Utd - not even for Real Madrid.

While Gabriel’s case plays into the narrative of the Red Devils’ long-term demise, his departure is perhaps saving the club headaches down the road.

Even the most talented of players can have an ego that holds back an entire project if they are not properly harnessed. There would be, after all, nothing to stop Gabriel’s entourage kicking up a similar fuss in two or three years to force a pay rise or move.

United need only look to the case of PSG as evidence of this. Now two-time Champions League winners, it was only a handful of years ago that Les Parisiens were held in thrall to Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi. One by one, they left, and PSG improved.

When Mbappe snubbed PSG’s attempts to retain him, it was thought to be the end of the club at the highest level. Instead, it was a turning point. Luis Enrique used it as a chance to rally the squad, change the dynamic and set a foundation for a side that has dominated European football in the last two years.

Gabriel is not (yet) Mbappe and Man Utd are not PSG, but this is a case that is a stark reminder that the health of the club is greater than the talent any one individual can bring.

The talented teen is off to Real Madrid, and if Man Utd can learn the lessons from this episode, they may be healthier for it.