JJ Gabriel makes final decision on next club as Man Utd starlet set to quit Premier League

Manchester United wonderkid JJ Gabriel has reached a verbal agreement with Real Madrid after deciding to leave the Premier League club, it has been reported.

In September, Gabriel submitted a formal request to leave United with immediate effect prior to turning 16, with his entourage said to have been unhappy with his lack of opportunities at senior level under Michael Carrick.

Spanish outlet SPORT reported last week that the transfer saga was 'nearing its end', with Gabriel said to have rejected an offer from Paris Saint-Germain. He has now made his final decision.

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JJ Gabriel 'makes final Man Utd decision'

It has been reported that Gabriel has continued to train alone in Barcelona since he made his decision to quit United - but it is not Camp Nou that will be his next destination.

It is instead Real Madrid that have fended off competition from Bayern Munich, PSG and Barcelona to sign him and have agreed terms with the 16-year-old and his entourage.

He has not played for United at any level since his formal request to leave the club, with United having offered him a scholarship in order to avoid losing him for free in January 2027.

The Sun claim that he has now secured a Cypriot passport, which will allow him to bypass Brexit regulations on players leaving for a club in the EU before they turn 18. His mother is of Greek-Cypriot descent, while he is also eligible to play for the Republic of Ireland at international level through his father, Joe O'Cearuill.

Real Madrid's plan for JJ Gabriel revealed

Los Blancos have already presented a plan for Gabriel's development should he join the Spanish giants from United.

It was claimed by ESPN that he would initially be integrated into Real's Castilla side, who currently play in the fourth division of Spanish football. Among the current Castilla squad is Thiago Pitarch, who has made 10 appearances for the club's first team.

READ MORE: Real Madrid's plan for JJ Gabriel revealed if he leaves Man Utd

The same outlet also reports that United are understood to be considering legal action if they find that any illegal approaches were made by other clubs while Gabriel was under contract.

United head coach Michael Carrick previously stated that he was involved in discussions over Gabriel's future at the club and, at that point, stressed his focus was on Gabriel's 'wellbeing, welfare [and] exposure'.

"I just think we've got to be really careful of the whole situation," Carrick stated. "He's a young boy, he's 15, and the biggest thing, for me definitely and as a club point of view, is looking after our younger players. Their welfare, their wellbeing, their exposure. And I think all of us, we've got to be really conscious of that in this situation.

"As a club, for sure, we're all involved in those conversations. I just think we've got to be very careful of that."