Manchester United appears increasingly likely to lose JJ Gabriel, with Real Madrid intensifying their pursuit of the highly-rated 16-year-old forward.

Gabriel has distanced himself from United’s first-team setup after expressing his desire to leave Old Trafford, and his future is nearing a decision.

Real Madrid, along with Barcelona and Bayern Munich, has shown interest, but the Spanish giants seem to be leading the charge to secure one of England’s most promising academy prospects.

Significant Offer from Real Madrid

According to SPORT, Real Madrid has made a substantial offer for Gabriel and is growing confident about winning the race for his signature. While Barcelona remains interested, they have previously distanced themselves publicly. Bayern Munich has also engaged with the teenager’s representatives.

Gabriel reportedly plans to decide his future before the end of October. Although United has attempted to mend the relationship by offering him a scholarship deal, his camp remains dissatisfied with his prospects for regular first-team football. Gabriel has been training away from the club while weighing his options.

Potential Setback for Manchester United

Losing Gabriel would represent a major setback for Manchester United, given the immense expectations surrounding him at Carrington. Paul Merson, a Sky Sports pundit, lauded Gabriel's talent, stating, "First of all, he’s an unbelievable talent" and remarked that many clubs worldwide would be eager to sign him.

Gabriel won the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award last season after scoring over 20 goals for the Under-18s and started this season with a Youth League hat-trick.

While Real Madrid can provide an elite development environment, breaking into their senior attack will be challenging. From United’s perspective, the larger concern is allowing such a valuable academy talent to believe his future lies elsewhere. If Gabriel opts for Madrid, the financial loss may be minimal compared to the frustration of watching another club nurture a player United hoped would become a first-team star.