Manchester United's highly-rated 16-year-old attacker, JJ Gabriel, is reportedly on the verge of joining Real Madrid, marking a potential end to his protracted departure from Old Trafford. While Manchester United has not confirmed any club-to-club contact, Gabriel, who has been training with a personal trainer in Madrid, is understood to be finalizing the transfer.
Sources familiar with the situation believe the move is imminent, especially since Gabriel recently obtained a European Union passport through his mother's Cypriot heritage. He is expected to join Real Madrid's Castilla team, which competes in Spain's third division, and participate in the Youth League. This competition was the site of his final appearance for Manchester United, where he scored a hat-trick.
Gabriel's desire to leave United surfaced in September following the FK Sabah match, when he and his representatives requested to terminate his academy contract. The club refused this request. Despite initial hopes for a compromise, Gabriel has not been with the team since and now appears set to secure his desired move to Spain.
His family has reportedly cited Manchester United's decline since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson as a primary reason for seeking an exit. They view clubs like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Arsenal, and Manchester City as benchmarks for development and want Gabriel to "learn from the best" to maximize his potential. The belief among those close to him is that Gabriel can develop into a world-class player in La Liga.