Real Madrid have set their sights on a 15-year-old Manchester United academy player, Spanish media reports said. The attacker, who is currently operating as a striker, was earlier trained at the academies of Chelsea, Arsenal, and West Ham before joining Manchester United in 2022.
🚨🚨🎥 JJ Gabriel SCORES AGAIN for Manchester United Under-18s against Middlesbrough! #MUFC [@UnitedAnalyst7] pic.twitter.com/rd4adx0NKW
— mufcmpb2 (@mufcMPB2_) August 23, 2025
Joseph Junior Andreou Gabriel, better known as JJ Gabriel, is the player who has impressed Real Madrid as well as Bayern Munich and Barcelona, as per social media reports. Gabriel is of Irish and Cypriot descent and had garnered the attention of the world when a YouTube video of him on the ball went viral on the internet. He was nine years old when channel SV2 uploaded his video – highlighting exceptional ball control and dribbling skills. This has earned him the nickname "Kid Messi" ever since.
🚨🚨🎥 JJ Gabriel SCORES for Manchester United Under-18s against Manchester City with a GREAT finish! #MUFC [@UnitedAnalyst7] 🌟💫 pic.twitter.com/rEXMn4aFAn
— mufcmpb2 (@mufcMPB2_) September 27, 2025
JJ Gabriel currently plays for Manchester United Under-18s under Darren Fletcher, managing seven goals and an assist this season so far from six appearances. Apart from being the fox in the box, the youngster is effective as a right-winger as well. Real Madrid have been tracking him for some time after being convinced that he is a player who fits their "youth system philosophy and international projection," Fichajes said in a report.
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Manchester United are well aware of Gabriel's brand value and skills, which could make a transfer difficult for any team. Gabriel has already signed a sponsorship deal with Nike, something that not many players of his age can boast about. Manchester United are waiting for the teenager to turn 17 so that they can offer him a professional contract, Fichajes added.
The 2010-born attacker last year was rated by some experts as the best talent the United academy has ever seen. He is eligible to play for both England and Ireland and has already been introduced to Rubén Amorim, the Manchester Evening News said in a report.
