Real Madrid Among Clubs In Race To Sign Man United's JJ Gabriel

Real Madrid are one of several clubs pushing hard to sign Manchester United academy talent JJ Gabriel, with reports describing their interest as strong.

The 15 year old sent United formal notice earlier this week that he wants to cancel his registration with the club immediately, though United can still challenge the request. Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich are also said to be keen, but multiple sources suggest Real Madrid's efforts to land him are the most serious.

Real want to bring Gabriel in straight away and place him with Real Madrid Castilla, the club's reserve side. Unlike academy football in England, Castilla actually compete in senior football, playing in the regionalised third tier of the Spanish system. 

Last season the side was coached by Alvaro Arbeloa, who later stepped up to manage the Real Madrid first team following Xabi Alonso's exit, before moving on to Fulham. Thiago Pitarch, who was just 18 at the start of last season, played for Castilla in a Premier League International Cup match against Southampton and went on to make 16 senior appearances across the campaign, a path Real Madrid clearly believe Gabriel could follow.

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Those close to Gabriel, who turns 16 on October 6, feel United haven't lived up to promises made about his route to the first team. United, for their part, say the plan had been for Gabriel to become the club's youngest ever senior player by featuring in Wednesday night's EFL Cup tie against Brighton. Whether that would have actually happened is debatable, especially given United blew a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 on the night.

United haven't given up hope of keeping hold of Gabriel, though the club says it isn't entirely clear why he wants to leave. It's understood he isn't currently training with the squad.

Head coach Michael Carrick, who handed Gabriel his senior debut during a pre-season game against Atletico Madrid in Stockholm, spoke after the Brighton defeat and urged caution given the player's age. 

"I just think we've got to be really careful of the whole situation," he said. "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."

Those in Gabriel's camp aren't as concerned about his age or physical readiness, and point to Arsenal's Max Dowman, who made his first team debut at 15 last season, as an example of a club willing to trust young players in a way they feel United currently isn't. Chelsea are also said to have strong interest in the teenager.

Any move away from Old Trafford in the near future is complicated by registration rules for young players. United say Gabriel's current registration runs until the end of the season, meaning it would be far simpler for him to leave once that period ends, by which point he'll be 16. However, because Gabriel holds an EU passport, there's a chance he could be permitted to join a club based in the European Union as soon as he turns 16.