Real Madrid are in advanced negotiations to sign Manchester United forward JJ Gabriel, with the Spanish club considered the clear favourite to land the 16-year-old talent. According to BBC Sport, Gabriel has not returned to United since departing in September and has been training independently in Spain while multiple European clubs pursue his signature.
Gabriel, who joined Manchester United in 2022, is registered to the club but has opted to seek senior football opportunities elsewhere. Reports indicate Gabriel rejected Paris St-Germain's latest proposal and has reiterated his preference to play in Spain, strengthening Real Madrid's position in the race for his services. Barcelona and PSG have also monitored his availability, but Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid remain the leading contenders.
The teenager impressed during Manchester United's pre-season tour, featuring against Atletico Madrid, and had been tipped to become the club's youngest debutant in a Carabao Cup fixture against Brighton in September. Instead, he chose to pursue opportunities abroad. Real Madrid were reportedly the only suitor willing to meet a package valued at more than €10 million over three seasons, including sporting demands.
Gabriel's credentials as a prospect are substantial. He scored a hat-trick on his UEFA Youth League debut and was named the Premier League's Under-18 player of the season despite being only 14 at the start of that campaign. In 2025/26, Gabriel scored 20 goals in 21 Under-18 Premier League appearances and won United's Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award. A United source previously described him as
the best 15-year-old in Europe, while former interim manager Darren Fletcher remarked that
the world is his oyster.
Gabriel has already secured a European Union passport, which is expected to facilitate his move to a club outside England. Should he depart, Manchester United would be entitled to compensation, though the figure will be lower if he signs for a club outside the Premier League.
The situation reflects broader challenges facing United in retaining young talent. Gabriel formally requested his registration be cancelled as Manchester United scrambled to retain the prospect, with Real Madrid, Barcelona and PSG all monitoring developments. Gabriel's family had informed United in June 2025 of their intention to move on, but the club had previously managed to retain him until his September departure.
When can the transfer be completed?
The move cannot be registered before January 2027, as that is the earliest available registration window. United's departure formalities and the formal registration process remain outstanding, meaning any announcement of an agreement would not translate into an immediate registration.
What did United's manager say?
Speaking after the EFL Cup defeat by Brighton, United head coach Michael Carrick addressed the situation:
We've got to be really careful of the whole situation. He's a young boy. He's 15 and, for me definitely, and from a club point of view, looking after our younger players - their welfare, their well-being, their exposure - we've got to be really conscious of that in this situation.
Key Facts
- Gabriel has not returned to Manchester United since September and has been training independently in Spain
- Real Madrid are the leading contenders, with Gabriel reportedly rejecting PSG to pursue a move to Spain
- The teenager scored 20 goals in 21 Under-18 Premier League appearances in 2025/26 and won United's Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award
- Any transfer cannot be registered before the January 2027 window
- Gabriel's EU passport status is expected to ease his move to a club outside England
