Real Madrid are convinced that they will win the battle for Manchester United’s young striker JJ Gabriel. Now they have reached a verbal agreement with the teenager.
Real Madrid have secured a verbal agreement with Manchester United striker JJ Gabriel (16), and are confident they will win the battle for his signature.
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The teenager is registered with United, but has not been back at the club since he left in September.
Gabriel, who played against Atletico Madrid during United’s pre-season, was expected to become the club’s youngest debutant in the Carabao Cup match against Brighton in September.
Instead, he chose to look for first-team football elsewhere – and has trained alone in Spain.
Hunted by big clubs
His availability piqued the interest of clubs across Europe, among them Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. Now, Real Madrid expect to sign the youngster in January.
Although there have not yet been club-to-club talks, sources have told BBC Sport that Real have agreed a transfer verbally with Gabriel and his representatives.
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Gabriel, who scored a hat trick on his debut in the Uefa Youth League, has secured an EU passport – which is expected to make it easier to sign for a club outside England.
United will be entitled to compensation if Gabriel disappears, but the amount will be lower if he signs for a club outside the Premier League.
“Europe’s best 15-year-old”
He was named the Premier League’s best U18 player last season, despite being only 14 years old when the season started.
“Europe’s best 15-year-old,” was how a source at United described Gabriel earlier this year. Former interim manager Darren Fletcher was no less enthusiastic:
“The world is open to him.
After the EFL Cup loss to Brighton, United head coach Michael Carrick said:
“We have to be really careful about the whole situation. He’s a young boy… From the club’s side, when it comes to taking care of our younger players – their welfare, their well-being, their exposure – we have to be very aware of that in this situation.
