Real Madrid's plan for JJ Gabriel emerges if they sign him from Man Utd

Real Madrid will offer JJ Gabriel the opportunity to play senior football if they sign him from Manchester United, according to reports - by placing him in their Castilla side.

Gabriel is said to have 'shocked' United chiefs on Tuesday by announcing his desire to terminate his contract and leave the club.

The 15-year-old has attracted interest from a host of European clubs, including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.

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Real Madrid to offer pathway to JJ Gabriel

It has been reported that Gabriel and his entourage are disappointed with his development and first-team opportunities at Manchester United.

He is yet to make his senior debut, but was said to have been pencilled in to start United's Carabao Cup third round tie against Brighton and Hove Albion at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

Gabriel's options are three-fold: he either stays at United, joins another Premier League club or moves abroad.

The Premier League option comes with its own pitfalls. Gabriel can walk away from United when he turns 16 in October and join another Premier League club; he cannot join Chelsea because they are banned from signing academy players until December.

A rule loophole allows European clubs to sign Gabriel before his 16th birthday, if he has dual nationality. His mother is Greek Cypriot.

ESPN report that Real Madrid, who were said to feel 'well-positioned' to sign Gabriel, have already mapped out what his future would look like if he moved to the Bernabeu.

He would initially line up for Real's Castilla side, which has been the proving ground for many a young player at Los Blancos over the years.

The success of Real's academy system dates back to the mid-20th century, with the likes of Emilio Butragueno, Raul, Iker Casillas, Juan Mata, Daniel Parejo and Guti all notable graduates. Current first-team players have - albeit briefly - played for Castilla, namely Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior and Federico Valverde.

Castilla currently play in the fourth division of Spanish football, with elite reserve teams integrated into the senior football structure.

The rules of the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) state that reserve teams are forbidden from playing in the same division as their senior equivalent, so Castilla will never play above the second tier unless Real inexplicably get relegated - in which case Castilla would drop down to the third tier; though the club would have far more to worry about if that ever happened.

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Why one club cannot sign JJ Gabriel

As mentioned above, Chelsea's current nine-month ban on registering academy players means they cannot agree a deal for Gabriel until after it expires in December.

The ban dates back to offences during Roman Abramovich's time as owner of the Blues.

Chelsea were given a nine-month ban and a fine of £750,000 for breaching Premier League rules over the registration of academy players between 2019 and 2022.

READ MORE: Premier League club banned from signing JJ Gabriel if he leaves Man Utd

That sanction was separate to their July punishment for breaching rules relating to payments to agents across the same period. They were sanctioned with a £10 million fine and a two-transfer-window ban from registering new players, the latter of which suspended until June 30, 2027.