Man Utd prepare for Real Madrid conflict as Gabriel nears Old Trafford exit

Manchester United are ready to launch legal action against Real Madrid in order to get proper compensation for JJ Gabriel.

After considering a handful of European giants, Gabriel, 16, has reportedly agreed to join Real. His future has been the subject of much speculation over the past few months after he decided to cut ties with United.

Gabriel dropped a bombshell in September by requesting to leave the club, having grown frustrated at being made to wait for his first-team debut. The youngster is also concerned by the drop in United's status in recent years and believes his career progression would be better served elsewhere.

He has been courted by Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain and has now set his sights on Real. However, it is not as simple as that, with United still holding his registration and being unwilling to lose one of the most exciting young players in Europe for a minimal fee.

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As Manchester Evening News reports, United have not been contacted by Real or Gabriel's camp over the move. Nevertheless, the club will consider legal action against Real because the compensation fee due once FIFA approve the move would be well below Gabriel's market value, at between £100,000 to £300,000.

The race for the best young talent has ramped up in the past few years, triggering a number of notable tribunal cases between rivals. For example, in February Liverpool were ordered to pay Chelsea £2.8million in compensation for Rio Ngumoha.

Gabriel, who turned 16 in October, has secured a European Union passport, which will help smooth over a move abroad. But there is likely to be plenty more wrangling between his current club and potential future employer.

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United have made repeated attempts to contact Gabriel since he last played for them in September but haven't received any response. He has been training in Castelldefels in Barcelona since walking away from United.

The club are aghast at the teenager's approach to forcing through a move elsewhere, given he has been nurtured at Carrington since joining in 2022.

Reports in Spain say that Gabriel has been tempted to Real by the offer of a three-year contract worth more than £850,000 (€1m) per season. He is being represented by agent Ali Bharat, who has helped facilitate his exit, along with his family.