A 15-year-old Manchester United attacker has informed his club he wants to leave. Reports say Real Madrid aim to sign him for their reserve side, with Barcelona and Premier League clubs also interested.
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Real Madrid want to recruit 15-year-old JJ Gabriel into their Castilla reserve team, planning a pathway to the senior squad.
Gabriel has strong youth statistics: 29 goals and 4 assists in 32 Under-18 appearances and a recent UEFA Youth League hat-trick.
# What happened
Manchester United youth attacker JJ Gabriel, aged 15, has informed the club he wants to leave. Reports say Real Madrid have stepped up their pursuit and are looking to sign him for their Castilla reserve side, which plays in Spain's third tier. Barcelona and Premier League clubs including Chelsea and Manchester City are also linked with interest.
# Castilla
Real Madrid reportedly plan to bring Gabriel into Castilla rather than the senior squad immediately. Castilla is the club's reserve team and functions as a bridge to first-team football. The reported plan is to integrate him into that environment with the expectation he could progress to the senior side in the near future.
# Manchester United's response
United were said to be stunned by Gabriel's decision. Chief executive Omar Berrada and director of football Jason Wilcox are involved in high-level talks as the club attempts to persuade him to stay. United had intended to offer scholarship terms when Gabriel turns 16 on October 6, with a professional contract to follow after a year.
# Player background and situation
# Other clubs and likely outcomes
# Timing and constraints
# What to watch next
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El Real Madrid vuelve a mirar hacia el futuro. Según informa Mario Cortegana, el conjunto blanco está trabajando en una operación para incorporar a JJ Gabriel, una de las grandes promesas de la cantera del Manchester United.
Manchester United are facing a serious battle to keep one of their brightest academy prospects after 15-year-old JJ Gabriel formally asked to leave the club. Gabriel has been at United since the age of 11 and has rapidly developed into one of Carrington’s standout talents. Want more CaughtOffside coverage? Add us as a
Manchester United teenager JJ Gabriel appears increasingly likely to leave Old Trafford, with the highly rated youngster reportedly having reached an important agreement on his preferred next step. According to SPORT, Gabriel and his representatives have reached a first major agreement that moving to Spain would repres
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Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid are all reportedly interested in signing JJ Gabriel following the shock news involving the 15-year-old Manchester United attacker.
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Manchester United are reportedly eyeing a move for Valerenga teenager Gabriel Rajkovic, potentially as a replacement for JJ Gabriel.
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