Real Madrid closing in on Manchester United wonderkid JJ Gabriel
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Real Madrid are closing in on the signing of Manchester United wonderkid JJ Gabriel in a major blow to the Old Trafford club.
Gabriel, who turned 16 last month, told United he wanted to leave in September and his representatives have been in contact with the biggest clubs in Europe, including Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
Multiple reports on Wednesday suggested Gabriel had chosen Madrid and agreed personal terms, and although there have been no club-to-club talks, he is set to move to the Spanish capital in January. He is thought to have an EU passport, enabling him to make the switch at such a young age, while United would be due compensation for the loss of a homegrown young player.
Gabriel is registered to United’s academy until the end of the season, but has not trained since falling out with the Old Trafford hierarchy over his development amid disagreement over the club’s cautious approach to his exposure at a young age.
Gabriel, whose father is the former Irish international Joe O’Cearuill, was barely used in pre-season and his family were unhappy with the then 15-year-old’s lack of involvement in first-team duties, as well as his exclusion from Champions League games this season.
Speaking after the rift emerged in September, United manager Michael Carrick said: “We’ve got to be really careful of the whole situation. He’s a young boy … from a club point of view, looking after our younger players – their welfare, their wellbeing, their exposure – we’ve got to be really conscious of that in this situation.”
The youngster, who primarily plays as a left winger or a No 10, grew up in London and spent stints at numerous top academies, including Chelsea, Arsenal, West Ham and Queens Park Rangers.
He garnered fame aged just eight, showing off his skills in a viral YouTube video which earned him the nickname “Kid Messi”.
Gabriel went on to join United’s youth setup at the age of 11, where he soon became regarded as one of the club’s brightest prospects.
He became the youngest winner of the club’s Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award last season after scoring more than 20 goals for the United’s Under-18 side. Gabriel’s goalscoring exploits also saw him named the Under-18 Premier League Player of the Season.
The forward’s real name is Joseph O’Cearuill but he goes under the name JJ Gabriel in football, reportedly for commercial reasons.
