Real Madrid Targets 15-Year-Old Talent JJ Gabriel from Man Utd
Real Madrid have moved aggressively to prise 15-year-old forward JJ Gabriel away from Manchester United’s academy, with the teenager formally attempting to cancel his registration at Old Trafford.
Gabriel has sent United official notice of his intention to terminate his registration with immediate effect, according to MyJoyOnline. United, though, are digging in. The club maintains his registration remains valid until the end of the current season and is prepared to challenge the move.
The youngster, who holds a European Union passport and turns 16 on October 6, is currently not training with United.
European giants circle
Real Madrid are not alone. Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern are all tracking Gabriel, while Chelsea are also understood to hold strong interest in the highly rated forward.
Several sources have described Madrid’s pursuit as “active”, with the Spanish giants keen to bring Gabriel in as soon as possible and place him with Real Madrid Castilla, their reserve side. Castilla compete in the regionalised third tier of Spanish football, a senior environment where academy prospects are thrown in against adult opposition.
For a 15-year-old, that is a bold step. Madrid appear convinced he is worth the gamble.
Frustration with United’s promises
People close to Gabriel believe Manchester United have fallen short on commitments about his pathway to the first team. Inside the camp, there was an expectation that he could have become United’s youngest-ever senior player had he featured in the English Football League Cup tie against Brighton.
That appearance never came. The disappointment has fuelled a feeling that the route to Erik ten Hag’s squad – or any future United manager’s squad – is not as clear as originally outlined.
Michael Carrick, now in charge and the man who gave Gabriel minutes in a pre-season friendly against Atletico in Stockholm, has urged caution. He has stressed the need to consider the teenager’s age, welfare and the level of attention already building around him.
Gabriel’s representatives reject the idea that he is too young or physically unprepared. They point to Max Dowman, who made his Arsenal debut at 15, as a recent example of a Premier League club trusting a player of similar age on a big stage.
Legal hurdles and a looming birthday
Any immediate switch is tangled in the regulations governing the registration and movement of underage footballers. Those rules complicate a rapid exit from United and an instant move to another major European club.
But Gabriel’s EU passport changes the picture. Once he turns 16 on October 6, he could be eligible to join a club within the European Union under existing rules, opening the door for Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern or PSG to make their move.
United insist his registration still stands. Gabriel’s camp insists his pathway lies elsewhere.
The clock is ticking towards his 16th birthday.
