Cannot push to new project

Summary

Create a new project, try and push an existing directory to the new empty project.

Steps to reproduce

• cd existing_folder
• git init
• git remote add origin https://gitlab.com/user/projectName.git
• git add .
• git commit -m "Initial commit"
• git push -u origin master

What is the current bug behaviour?

git push -u origin master
remote: The project you were looking for could not be found.
fatal: repository 'https://gitlab.com/user/projectName.git/' not found

What is the expected correct behaviour?

The push should work, or I should see the directory and its files in the gitlabs project.

The resolutions or descriptions from other bugs I've seen such as, removing ssh keys, unprotecting the branch initially etc are a year or elder and don't apply anymore.