JJ Gabriel Chooses Real Madrid After Leaving Manchester United

JJ Gabriel has explained his move away from Manchester United, saying his ambition is to win the Ballon d’Or and choosing Real Madrid over Barcelona. The 15-year-old is expected to sign for Madrid in January, with a long-term deal subject to FIFA rules.

Gabriel sought to leave United after becoming frustrated with the lack of a clear route to the senior team. He had impressed during pre-season, while other interested clubs included Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.

United tried to keep the young forward and is considering legal action against Madrid to seek compensation beyond the £100,000 to £300,000 typically required by FIFA in such cases. Madrid has not contacted United, and is said to have proposed a three-year deal paying Gabriel more than £850,000 a season. His agent is searching for accommodation in Madrid for Gabriel and his family while contract terms are discussed.

Former United player Ryan Giggs criticized the decision to leave, urging Gabriel to be patient and warning that senior football brings demands beyond youth-team and pre-season appearances. Giggs said he had trained with the first team at 15 but did not make his senior debut for another two years.

Gabriel spoke to Spanish media alongside his father after training with his personal trainer. He said Madrid was the better choice when asked to compare it with Barcelona, and expressed his hope of winning football’s top individual prize.