Manchester United academy jewel decides to join Real Madrid – report

Manchester United academy jewel decides to join Real Madrid – report Things seem to be progressing quickly as Real Madrid continue to pursue a move for Manchester United youngster JJ Gabriel. Real Madrid’s interest is already significant, but the player’s apparent desire to join makes this an increasingly intriguing long-term operation. According to talkSPORT, via RM4 Arab , Gabriel wants to join Real Madrid. The Spanish giants have been working for months on a potential deal for the highly rated youngster. Gabriel wants Madrid The latest development matters because Real Madrid are not approaching Gabriel simply as another academy recruit. Their plan would involve the youngster playing for Castilla, where he could experience senior football in Spain’s third tier, while also representing the Under-19 side in the UEFA Youth League. JJ Gabriel is playing at higher age level teams for some time now. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images) Born in October 2010, Gabriel remains exceptionally young, so any potential transfer involving him would have to be handled carefully under FIFA regulations concerning minors. Real Madrid have consequently been operating with considerable discretion around the possibility of signing him. Viewed as a future first-team player Real Madrid are signing Gabriel with a view to him becoming a first-team player in the long term . Castilla contains plenty of promising footballers, but Los Blancos appear to see Gabriel as someone capable of eventually progressing beyond the reserve team and competing for a place at the Bernabeu. His recent performances have only increased the attention surrounding him. Gabriel scored a hat-trick for Manchester United in their UEFA Youth League victory over Sabah, a display that brought him plenty of plaudits. The 15-year-old has long been heralded as one of the biggest English talents around, and Manchester United have been working very hard on his development. Gabriel is said to be keen on joining Real Madrid. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) However, it does look like the player’s relationship with the Red Devils has broken down and that he is actively looking for a move away from the club. There are obviously no guarantees with a player this young. Development is rarely linear, particularly when the jump from youth football to Real Madrid’s first team is enormous. However, the proposed pathway makes sense. If Gabriel genuinely wants the move as reported, Real Madrid would be pulling off a coup by signing him. The interest seems clear from both sides, and it remains to be seen whether this develops into a potential transfer situation in the coming days.