Real Madrid Close In on Manchester United Teenager JJ Gabriel
Real Madrid are closing in on signing JJ Gabriel, the 16-year-old forward who asked to leave Manchester United in September. Sky Sports reports that Real have reached a verbal agreement with the player, and The Guardian says the Spanish club have offered him a multi-year contract.
Real hope to complete the move in January, subject to final talks. Gabriel is still registered with United's academy, the club's youth system, until the end of the season. United had not been contacted by Gabriel's camp or by Real about the proposed move, and the club will consider legal action if it believes any rules have been broken.
The route Real plan to use is a FIFA rule. FIFA is world football's governing body. The rule allows EU clubs to sign young players to professional contracts if the player holds an EU passport. Gabriel can become eligible for one through both of his parents. FIFA would still have to approve the transfer. Whichever club signs him, a compensation fee would be due to Manchester United.
Gabriel's rise was quick. He made his United debut at 15, coming on in a pre-season friendly against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm in August. Last season he became the club's youngest-ever academy player of the year, and he was named the Premier League's Under-18 player of the season. He was also presented with Manchester United's Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award, becoming its youngest winner.
The trouble started in September. Gabriel had been training with the first team, and he told the club he wanted to leave before the Carabao Cup tie against Brighton on 16 September. He had asked to go a day before he was due to be named in the squad for that match. Had he played, he would have become the youngest player in United's history. He is believed to be training in Spain.
United did not give up without a fight. In October, The Guardian reported that the club had offered him a new contract in an attempt to keep him. Real were already reported to be the favourites for his signature in September, and Barcelona were also among the clubs watching the situation.
Real's reserve side, Castilla B, play in the regionalised Spanish third tier, a step below the country's top divisions. Gabriel would be a rare sight there. Whether a player so young can move this quickly will now depend on FIFA's approval and on the final talks still to come.
