Real Madrid believe they are in a strong position to sign Manchester United’s highly rated teenage prospect JJ Gabriel, ESPN’s Transfer Talk reports, as the saga around the 16-year-old attacking midfielder enters its decisive phase.
JJ Gabriel in Manchester United colors (Credits: ESPN)
Gabriel shocked United in mid-September by formally requesting to terminate his contract, after his representatives felt promises over senior minutes had been broken — notably his non-inclusion in the Champions League squad against Sabah, on a day he had scored a hat-trick for the club in the Youth League. ESPN’s Rob Dawson reported that his camp wanted him to feature against Sabah, Brighton and Bournemouth before scholarship talks even began, and that little sign of reconciliation has emerged since.
JJ Gabriel transfer: Real Madrid’s plan for the United wonderkid
According to reports cited by ESPN, Real Madrid see themselves as “well-positioned” to win the race for Gabriel ahead of LaLiga rivals Barcelona, with both clubs — along with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain — linked to the teenager. Madrid’s plan would see Gabriel start in their Castilla reserve side in Spain’s third tier, with a pathway to senior football — a route that has developed countless young talents at the Bernabeu.
As an EU passport holder through his parents, Gabriel was eligible to agree a deal with an EU club from his 16th birthday on October 6, subject to FIFA rules. United, for their part, have said they are prepared to take legal action if there is evidence of other clubs approaching him outside the rules, and no formal approach has reached the club.
When could the move happen?
Sources told Football Insider late last month that Gabriel’s exit is now seen as “inevitable” but will have to wait until the January transfer window — and that Real Madrid and PSG are now the two clubs going head-to-head for his signature, with Barcelona and Bayern fading from the race. Because of his age, United would receive only a small compensation payment rather than a transfer fee — reportedly as little as £350,000 if he heads to Spain, versus up to £3m from a Premier League rival.
Nothing is signed yet, and Gabriel’s camp has not spoken publicly — all of this remains reported, not confirmed. But the direction of travel looks increasingly clear, and January could bring an end to one of the most watched academy exits in recent memory.
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Source: ESPN — read the full story there.
