Real Madrid Target Man United Wonderkid JJ Gabriel For Castilla Move

Real Madrid are stepping up their efforts to sign Manchester United academy forward JJ Gabriel, with plans to place the 15-year-old in their reserve side, Castilla, if they secure his immediate transfer.

Gabriel has formally notified Manchester United of his desire to cancel his registration with immediate effect, although the Premier League club can challenge the request.

The teenager, who turns 16 on 6 October, is attracting strong interest from several of Europe’s leading clubs, with Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Chelsea among those understood to be monitoring his situation.

However, sources indicate that Real Madrid’s efforts to recruit Gabriel are particularly strong, with the Spanish giants keen to move quickly and integrate him into Castilla.

Unlike reserve teams in England, Castilla compete in senior football and currently play in Spain’s regionalised third tier. The set-up would therefore offer Gabriel the opportunity to play competitive senior football at a relatively young age.

Real Madrid’s reserve side was coached last season by Alvaro Arbeloa, who subsequently took charge of the senior team following Xabi Alonso’s departure before moving to Fulham.

Gabriel’s potential move comes amid growing frustration from those close to the player over his development at United.

Sources close to Gabriel believe promises regarding his pathway towards first-team football have not been fulfilled, although United maintain that they had anticipated giving him an opportunity to become their youngest-ever senior player in Wednesday’s EFL Cup meeting with Brighton.

United eventually lost 3-2 after surrendering a two-goal lead, leaving some doubt over whether Gabriel would have featured had the match followed a different course.

The club have not abandoned hopes of retaining the highly-rated youngster but are understood to be uncertain about the precise reasons behind his desire to leave. Gabriel is currently not training with the club.

United head coach Michael Carrick, who handed Gabriel his senior debut during a pre-season friendly against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm, urged caution when asked about the teenager after the Brighton defeat.

“We’ve got to be really careful of the whole situation. He’s a young boy. He’s 15,” Carrick said.

He added that the club had to prioritise the welfare and well-being of its young players while being conscious of their exposure to senior football.

Those close to Gabriel, however, have dismissed concerns about his age and physical readiness, pointing to Arsenal youngster Max Dowman’s first-team involvement at 15 as an example of another club showing a willingness to trust a teenage prospect.

Any immediate departure from Old Trafford is complicated by regulations governing the registration of young players.

United maintain that Gabriel’s registration runs until the end of the season, meaning a move would be more straightforward once he turns 16.

However, his possession of an EU passport could potentially allow him to join a club within the European Union once he reaches his 16th birthday.

With Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, Bayern Munich and Chelsea all understood to be interested, Gabriel’s next move could become one of the most closely watched decisions involving an English academy player this season.