JJ Gabriel has not trained with Manchester United since requesting a transfer

Real Madrid has reached a verbal agreement with 16-year-old JJ Gabriel regarding a potential transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu. Currently, Gabriel is part of Manchester United's academy and is expected to remain there until the end of the season. However, Real Madrid plans to secure his signing in January, utilising a FIFA loophole that allows clubs to sign young players with European passports, which Gabriel possesses through his parents.

Despite the agreement with Gabriel, there has been no formal contact between Manchester United and Real Madrid regarding the transfer. Gabriel's camp has expressed that they are not concerned about potential legal action from United, which has been reported as a possibility if the transfer proceeds. The teenager has not trained with United since he submitted a transfer request in September.

Gabriel's desire to leave United stems from his belief that he should have received more opportunities to play with the first team. His family felt that his involvement in pre-season was insufficient, particularly after he only played nine minutes in a friendly against AC Milan. They had expected more significant participation in matches, including requests for him to play longer in various competitions.

The situation escalated when Gabriel failed to report back to the academy squad as expected, with his family believing he should only train with the first team. They requested that he be included in the Champions League squad, but United chose not to register him, leading to further frustrations. Club sources indicate that the disagreement arises from differing views on Gabriel's development and career aspirations.

Real Madrid is not the only club interested in Gabriel, as Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, and Bayern Munich have also shown interest. However, Real Madrid appears to be leading the race to sign the promising academy talent, who has become one of the most sought-after young players in Europe. The ongoing developments could shape Gabriel's future significantly in the coming months.

via Sky Sports