The saga surrounding Manchester United sensation JJ Gabriel appears to be nearing its conclusion, as the attacker appears closer than ever to a move away from the club.

Reports indicate that the 16-year-old forward is now set for a move abroad, as talks with Manchester United have completely stalled.

Gabriel has two main suitors, Barcelona and Real Madrid, and both sides are keen to bring him in, having identified his quality and talent.

The Red Devils would be due some sort of compensation even if he moves to a club abroad, but they stand to receive significantly less than they would if he stayed in England.

Barcelona, Real Madrid Pushing Hard for JJ Gabriel

According to Catalan news outlet SPORT, Gabriel is being followed closely by Barcelona and Real Madrid, Spain's biggest clubs, ahead of a possible move in January.

Los Blancos look the most likely to pick up the youngster, having laid down a solid foundation for a move for him.

Their rivals are still interested despite contrary claims from sporting director Deco, and remain active in the race to snap up the teenage sensation.

A move to Bayern Munich has been ruled out, despite the track record of the Bundesliga side in pushing young players to their first team on a regular basis.

Gabriel's transfer abroad will fetch Manchester United around £350,000 in compensation, as opposed to £3 million they would be entitled to if he moved to another English side.

JJ Gabriel's Manchester United Demands Revealed as Talks Fail

JJ Gabriel is set for an exit from Manchester United after talks between the player and the club failed to yield an agreement.

Last month, the youngster submitted an official request for the club to cancel his registration in a move that would have allowed him to leave for free immediately, but they held out.

According to multiple sources, Gabriel and his entourage were unhappy when five demands that they made were not met by the club. The demands include:

  • Gabriel be given the number 77 jersey with 'Gabriel Jr' on the back.
  • He be promoted to the first team fully and only train with Michael Carrick's side going forward.
  • He would receive 20 minutes of game time in matches against Sabah FK in the UEFA Champions League, Brighton & Hove Albion in the Carabao Cup, and Bournemouth in the Premier League.
  • He would be paid a seven-figure salary to extend his contract with the Red Devils.

JJ Gabriel was considered a member of Carrick's team, judging by the club's official squad picture for the 2026-27 season.

They offered him a scholarship, but he prefers to pitch his tent elsewhere and can do so now that he has turned 16.