JJ Gabriel plan emerges as Real Madrid fear repeating mistake after signing Man United ace

Manchester United youngster JJ Gabriel is in advanced talks with Real Madrid after requesting to leave Old Trafford; he obtained an EU passport to facilitate the move.

JJ Gabriel is on the verge of joining Real Madrid after requesting his registration be cancelled at Manchester United. The 16-year-old has been absent from Old Trafford since making his request, and has now obtained a European Union passport, which clears the way for him to move to a club outside England. Real Madrid are in pole position to sign him, though Barcelona and Bayern Munich have also shown interest.

Gabriel was set to become United's youngest-ever first-team player in the Carabao Cup against Brighton, but was withdrawn from the club three weeks before his 16th birthday. His family were unhappy with his progression plan and had demanded he feature in the Champions League, Carabao Cup, and make a Premier League debut.

Spanish journalist Guillem Balague believes Real Madrid will have learned lessons from their controversial handling of Martin Odegaard, who joined as a 15-year-old but made just 11 first-team appearances before loan spells and an eventual 2021 move to Arsenal. Odegaard was given a lucrative first-team contract but trained with Real's B team, a situation Balague hopes Real will avoid repeating with Gabriel.