Real Madrid close on 16-year-old JJ Gabriel as Manchester United are left in the dark

Manchester United remain unaware of JJ Gabriel’s next move despite widespread reports that the 16-year-old is on the verge of signing for Real Madrid, with the club receiving no communication from either the player’s family or the Spanish giants.

Gabriel walked away from United on 10 September, shortly after scoring a hat-trick in a UEFA Youth League victory over Sabah — a match his family had specifically demanded he play in. He has not returned to Old Trafford or the club’s Carrington training base since. United still hold his registration, and while they have attempted to contact Gabriel’s family out of concern for his well-being, those approaches have been rebuffed.

The teenager had been earmarked for a historic debut against Brighton in the Carabao Cup, which would have made him United’s youngest-ever first-team player. His family, however, grew frustrated at the perceived lack of opportunity and pulled him from the club roughly three weeks before he turned 16. Their demands had included appearances against Sabah in the Champions League, against Brighton in the Carabao Cup, and a Premier League debut.

Gabriel’s acquisition of a European Union passport has simplified the process of signing for a club outside England now that he has turned 16. Real Madrid are reported to have beaten competition from Barcelona and Bayern Munich, among others, to secure his signature, though FIFA approval is still required — a step widely expected to be a formality.

Financially, United are set to receive compensation in the region of £100,000 to £300,000, a figure significantly below what the club consider his true market value. Despite that, United have made clear they will consider legal action against any European club that completes a signing while Gabriel remains registered to them — a warning that appears directed squarely at Madrid.