Manchester United teenager JJ Gabriel close to Real Madrid move, says Fabrizio Romano
Transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano says 16-year-old JJ Gabriel is likely to join Real Madrid in January after rejecting Manchester United's offers, with Paris Saint-Germain and other clubs losing interest.
Fabrizio Romano reported that 16-year-old midfielder JJ Gabriel has been traveling to Spain as part of negotiations to join Real Madrid. Gabriel and his family asked Manchester United to terminate his contract in September, alleging unmet promises about first-team opportunities, but United presented several scholarship-deal offers that were declined.
Romano said Paris Saint-Germain have ended talks with the player, leaving Real Madrid as the leading candidate. He added that Gabriel has spent several days in Madrid training and that the clubs expect him to complete the move in January.
"Real Madrid remain very clear favourites to sign JJ Gabriel. At the moment, the expectation of all those involved is for JJ Gabriel to go to Real Madrid," Romano said on YouTube.
Romano also noted that Real Madrid aim to preserve their relationship with Manchester United during the transfer process, citing a previous situation involving Trent Alexander-Arnold, where Madrid informed Liverpool of their intentions to maintain goodwill.
"Real Madrid want to make sure not to break the relationship with Manchester United for this JJ Gabriel saga," he said.
Gabriel, who holds an Irish passport, hoped to leave United immediately after turning 16 on October 6 under EU rules, but the transfer has been pushed to the January window. United are expected to lose the player regardless of the outcome.