Wantaway Man United kid JJ Gabriel outlines Ballon d'Or ambition in Spanish media interview

The 16-year-old forward has handed in a transfer request and is in talks with Real Madrid, expected to move in January for minimal compensation.

JJ Gabriel, Manchester United's 16-year-old forward, has signalled his intention to leave the club by submitting a transfer request. Real Madrid are leading the chase for his signature, with Gabriel giving an exclusive interview to Spanish outlet Marca where he stated his preference for the Santiago Bernabéu over Barcelona.

Gabriel has not trained at United's Carrington facility since September and has instead been training in Madrid. A move to Real Madrid is expected to be confirmed in January, with Manchester United potentially receiving compensation as low as £300,000. The youngster will initially join Real Madrid's Castilla team in Spain's third tier and feature in the UEFA Youth League.

Gabriel's departure stems from frustrations over his development pathway at United. His representatives claim the club has declined compared to Europe's elite and point to perceived delays in his integration into the first team. The former Premier League Under-18 Player of the Season, named at just 14 years old, has already made an impact in the UEFA Youth League with a hat-trick before his transfer request.