Jose Mourinho smiling looking towards JJ Gabriel playing for Manchester United
Jose Mourinho smiling looking towards JJ Gabriel playing for Manchester United
The 16-year-old's future has been a big talking point since it emerged earlier this season that he had rejected a contract offer from United and wanted to leave.
Sources say he has verbally accepted an offer from Real and is expected to put pen to paper soon after heading out to Spain to train on his own.
Gabriel is registered at United, but has not been back to the club since walking out in September.
The teenager, who played against Atletico Madrid on United's pre-season tour, had been expected to become the club's youngest debutant in September's Carabao Cup tie against Brighton but it emerged on the eve of the game he wanted to leave.
Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich have all made efforts to land his signature, but Real have now agreed terms with him.
Gabriel, who scored a hat-trick on his Uefa Youth League debut, has secured a European Union passport, which is expected to make it easier for him to sign for a club outside England.
United are due compensation should Gabriel leave, although the figure - expected to be a six-figure sum - will be lower if he signs for a club outside the Premier League.
How Real Madrid look set to win JJ Gabriel race
There was always going to be noise surrounding the teen as he looked to force an exit from Old Trafford.
Man United viewed his requests over senior, competitive minutes as unfair and are disappointed with how this saga has played out.
PSG had been working hard to lure the attacker to the French capital, but a move to Spain now looks inevitable.
Sources now detail that Gabriel has agreed to sign for Real Madrid ahead of the January window.
A deal is moving closer to being sealed and is subject to FIFA regulations on the transfer of minors.
He will soon put pen to paper on a long-term contract as a move to the Bernabeu lies in wait.
Why have Real Madrid moved to sign Gabriel from Manchester United?
There is no hiding from the fact that joining Los Blancos would be a dream come true for any footballer.
That is especially the case for a 16-year-old who is looking to make his way in the game.
There may be questions why Jose Mourinho's side pushed so hard for his signature, but his talent is clear to see.
Gabriel has been a standout youth star, winning the Premier League’s Under-18 player of the season award despite being only 14 at the start of that season.
That has all been added to by his UEFA Youth League exploits this campaign as he became the youngest player in Man United history to score a hattrick in the competition against Sabah in September.
It will now be interesting to see how his demands can be met in the Spanish capital after forcing his way out of Old Trafford.