La Liga: Madrid confident of signing Man United wonderkid JJ Gabriel

Real Madrid is confident they can secure the signature of Manchester United's teenage forward JJ Gabriel, who is reportedly weighing up his options at Old Trafford, according to BBC Sport on Wednesday. The 16-year-old remains under contract with United but has not returned to the club since walking out in September, and is exploring opportunities elsewhere to progress his career.

Gabriel was initially earmarked to make his first-team debut for United in September's Carabao Cup match against Brighton, but his future remains unclear. Several European clubs, including Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, have shown interest in the highly-rated forward, but Real Madrid are seen as the frontrunners for his signature.

Gabriel's potential move to Spain has been facilitated by his acquisition of a European Union passport, which should simplify a transfer to a club outside England. Manchester United would be entitled to receive compensation if Gabriel leaves the club, although the amount would be reduced if he joins a team outside the Premier League.

Despite his young age, Gabriel has already received significant praise for his performances at youth level, with Manchester United naming him the Premier League Under-18 Player of the Season in the previous campaign, despite being only 14 at the time. A former interim manager of the club, Darren Fletcher, described the teenager as "the best 15-year-old in Europe", while Manchester United head coach Michael Carrick has urged caution when discussing the situation, emphasizing the importance of considering the welfare and well-being of young players.