Real Madrid have moved ahead of Bayern Munich in the pursuit of Manchester United youngster JJ Gabriel, with the Spanish club closing in on an agreement to bring the highly rated forward to the Bernabéu.
The 16-year-old has attracted interest from several leading European clubs, but Real Madrid have made the strongest progress towards securing his signature. Matteo Moretto has described the move as imminent, while Christian Falk has explained how Bayern Munich's interest failed to develop into a concrete pursuit.
âBayern were always in contact with JJ Gabriel's agents and with the player himself, who had already visited the club in the past. This was always an option,â Falk told Bild.
However, the German club did not push ahead with formal negotiations, allowing Real Madrid to establish their advantage.
âThey have paid a lot of money. There were discussions, although no concrete negotiations, so we cannot say that Bayern pushed hard for the striker. Bayern were interested, but Real Madrid were simply more decisive,â Falk added.
Gabriel had informed Manchester United of his desire to leave in September, prompting interest from a number of clubs, including Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. United have yet to reach an agreement with Real Madrid over a transfer, with the teenager still registered with the English club's academy until the end of the season.
Sky Sports has reported that Real Madrid have reached a verbal agreement with Gabriel over a potential move in January. The forward is eligible to sign a professional contract in Spain through a provision relating to his European nationality.
Manchester United are understood to be considering their options should they believe the rules surrounding the move have been breached. For now, however, Real Madrid are positioning themselves to complete a deal for one of the most sought-after young players in English football.