Phil Bardsley believes JJ Gabriel is not yet ready for the Premier League despite the player demanding first-team minutes.The Manchester United wonderkid has asked to leave the club with European giants, including Bayern Munich, know to be interested.Gabriel is yet to make a senior appearance for United, but is one of the most highly-regarded talents in the countryGettyThe teenager turned 16 on Tuesday which allows him to depart Old Trafford and sign for clubs abroad following his demand to leave last month.There has also been contact with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Barcelona.Gabriel has not trained at Carrington since he walked out ahead of their Carabao Cup fixture with Brighton on September 16, when the youngster was due to receive his first team debut.This was prior to his representatives demanding United should cancel his registration over a row about his playing time.It has been reported that the youngster’s representatives demanded that the teenager played at least 20 minutes in games against Sabah FK, Brighton and Bournemouth before beginning talks about signing a scholarship.However, former Man United defender Bardsley believes the 16-year-old isn’t ready for the physicality of the Premier League.He told talkSPORT: “From the outside, physically I don’t think he’s ready to be thrown in at the level yet. I think from years gone by, you look at players who have physically developed…“You have Rooney, for instance, who was ready to go and play at that age. “Look at the boy at the minute, his abilities are obviously there, he’s an outstanding talent and hopefully goes on to be a great player.Wayne Rooney was just 16 years and 360 days old when he announced himself with a sensational goal for Everton against ArsenalTimes Newspapers Ltd“But I think the timing’s a bit off, the way things are at the club and the way it came out.“But I believe it’s been orchestrated by agents, parents, and pushing for these things when you’re at such a delicate age and you’re in a transition into men’s football. I think you need to be patient.”Wayne Rooney did itRooney himself admitted he was not shocked that Gabriel was wanting to leave Old Trafford.Speaking to talkSPORT, the United legend said: “With the JJ situation, I’ve seen him growing up, he’s been in [my son] Kai’s team, and I think, if I’m being honest, everyone has seen it coming.“There’s been a desire to maybe play abroad, maybe in Spain. We have to remember he’s 15, he’s still a kid. That’s a lot of pressure and you hope that the decisions are being made for the right reasons.“I actually listened to Michael Carrick talk about it after the Brighton game and I thought he spoke really well. Gabriel has been included in United’s first-team squad photoGetty“It’s such a big story with everything that’s going on at Man United that you forget there’s a kid involved here.“Even the teenager has made it clear he doesn’t want to stay in England, as talkSPORT understands he rejected Chelsea’s interest.Despite several attempts by the Red Devils to reconcile the situation, Gabriel’s family are seemingly intent on him leaving Carrington.Sources close to the player believe Gabriel has an Irish passport, meaning he is eligible to join a club in the European Union.Real Madrid and Barcelona are understood to be leading the race to sign the England Under-17 international, while Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are also keen.