Real Madrid are confident about winning the race to sign Manchester United’s wantaway teenager JJ Gabriel after reportedly reaching an agreement
JJ Gabriel
JJ Gabriel is set to leave Man United(Image: Getty Images)
Real Madrid are confident about winning the race to sign Manchester United’s wantaway teenage sensation JJ Gabriel. The 16-year-old made clear his intention to leave Old Trafford in September.
Gabriel is still registered to United but walked out on the club on the eve of making his first-team debut against Brighton in the Carabao Cup.
The teenager wanted to cancel his United contract and has left the country, training on his own in Spain as he looks to continue his development abroad. And it’s reported that the 16-year-old has reached a verbal agreement in principle to sign for Los Blancos.
JJ Gabriel.
JJ Gabriel's future is set to be decided(Image: Anthony Devlin/Manchester United via Getty Images)
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According to Sky Sports Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Madrid are the favourites to sign Gabriel and the transfer is being pushed towards completion, although nothing has been signed yet.
Barcelona, Bayern Munich and PSG have also shown interest in the forward, and remain on alert if the demanding teenager fails to put pen to paper with Madrid.
The German giants have reportedly remained in contact with Gabriel but emerged as only an outside contender due to the financial package that Madrid were willing to offer him.
Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada
Jason Wilcox and Omar Berrada attempted to convince JJ Gabriel to remain at Manchester United(Image: Adam Davy/Press Association)
It’s added that Gabriel will leave United as early as January with the deal to take place in 2027. Gabriel holds an Irish passport and can complete a move to Europe after turning 16 in October.
Gabriel determined his future lies beyond Old Trafford following what his representatives allegedly viewed as unfulfilled pledges regarding game time.
The youngster's agents are said to have made outrageous demands including that the child feature for at least 20 minutes in United's fixtures against Sabah, Brighton and Bournemouth, before entering talks over a scholarship agreement.
Speaking after the cup defeat by Brighton, United manager Michael Carrick said: "We've got to be really careful of the whole situation.
"He's a young boy. He's 15 and, for me definitely, and from a club point of view, looking after our younger players - their welfare, their well-being, their exposure - we've got to be really conscious of that in this situation."
Director of football Jason Wilcox reportedly held talks with Gabriel and his family to convince them that Old Trafford was the right place for his future, but he now looks set to head out the exit door for good as early as January.