Real Madrid step up efforts to beat Barcelona to the signing of Man United academy gem

Real Madrid step up efforts to beat Barcelona to the signing of Man United academy gem Manchester United prodigy JJ Gabriel has emerged as the hottest prospects in the transfer market right now, just two weeks after the summer window came to an end. The young Englishman is regarded as one of the most promising players in the Man United academy, but he has handed in a transfer request at the club. This comes on the back of a breakdown of relation between his family and the club, leaving Manchester United in a state of shock. Barcelona are among the clubs who have been linked with a move for the 15-year-old prodigy, as they look to fully utilise the market opportunity. Real Madrid keen on beating Barcelona JJ Gabriel is Man United’s most gifted young prodigy. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images) According to Daily Mail , however, Barcelona’s pursuit of JJ Gabriel could be under threat due to the emergence of Real Madrid. Although the club from the capital have been eyeing a move for the youngster for quite some time as well, it appears they have stepped up their efforts to sign the player. Real Madrid are particularly keen on beating Barcelona in the race to sign Gabriel, especially having lost out on Rodri to Catalonia in the summer. The report adds that Jose Mourinho’s team is being seen as a real force, as far as future of Gabriel is concerned, with the club pushing hard for the player. A big miss for Barcelona? JJ Gabriel has an Irish passport, allowing him to leave England early. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) Losing out on the opportunity to sign one of the most promising young talents in England will certainly be a blow for Barcelona. However, the report did not exactly specify that Barcelona are completely out of the chase and the club may yet make a late effort to compete with Real Madrid. It must be noted that La Masia has become an attractive destination for young players globally, especially given the sheer amount of players who have broken into the first-team. Given the team’s recent success, Barcelona can certainly make a case for being the better destination for JJ Gabriel, as he looks to take the next step in his career. Other clubs such as Chelsea and Bayern Munich are also monitoring the situation of the young Englishman.