Real Madrid News
Real Madrid already have a roadmap planned for exit-bound Manchester United prodigy
According to ESPN, Real Madrid have already mapped out what they want Manchester United youngster JJ Gabriel to do if they manage to bring him to Spain.
The plan is for Gabriel to begin his Real Madrid career with Castilla, giving the highly rated teenager a pathway into senior football while allowing the club to manage his development away from the immediate pressure of the first team.
Gabriel and his representatives have stunned Manchester United by pushing for a departure from Old Trafford.
As per the outlet, Manchester United are not prepared to cancel his current contract, while the teenager cannot be de-registered, meaning his situation is unlikely to be resolved immediately.
JJ Gabriel’s future has opened the door for Real Madrid
Gabriel turns 16 on October 6, after which he will be eligible to sign scholarship forms.
His Irish passport also means he can move to another European club, putting Real Madrid and Barcelona among the clubs alerted to his situation.
For now, Real Madrid are said to be working on a deal for the teenager after he decided he wants to leave United.
That level of interest has now been matched by a clear development strategy.
Rather than rushing Gabriel into the senior squad, Madrid would initially place him with Castilla, where he could adapt to Spanish football and continue his progression.
Manchester United still hope to keep Gabriel
Manchester United, on their part, have not given up on the possibility of repairing the situation.
There is a belief within the club that Gabriel could eventually agree to return, while officials remain hopeful that the dispute can be resolved.
The teenager’s representatives have not publicly outlined the precise reasons behind the desire to leave, and United insist they do not know exactly what has prompted the stance.
That uncertainty has not stopped Real Madrid from pursuing the opportunity.
With Gabriel approaching the next stage of his development, the coming months could determine whether one of English football’s most highly regarded young talents remains at Old Trafford or begins a new chapter at Real Madrid.
With the football awards season almost upon us, Tuttosport has released the list of the Top 25 finalists for the 2026 Golden Boy Award.
The prize recognises the best Under-21 player at a European club, and two Real Madrid stars have made the cut for the final 25 candidates for this year.
Indeed, summer signing Yan Diomande, who joined the club from RB Leipzig in a mammoth €140 million deal, features on the list, currently occupying the fourth place in the rankings.
The 19-year-old Ivorian winger had an impressive breakthrough season at Leipzig in 2025/26 and is growing in stature at Real Madrid in recent weeks, earning him a nomination for the prize.
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝟐𝟓 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄! We present the 𝟐𝟓 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐲, the award celebrating the best U21 players competing in European football leagues https://t.co/9wpeiW48RV
— Golden Boy (@GoldenBoyAwards) October 5, 2026
The second Real Madrid player on the list happens to be Endrick, who excelled during his loan spell at Olympique Lyon during the second half of the 2025/26 campaign.
As things stand, however, FC Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsi is the frontrunner for the Golden Boy Award, followed by Ayyoub Bouaddi of Manchester City and Warren Zaire-Emery of Paris Saint-Germain.
The final list also includes Victor Froholdt (Porto), Rayan (Bournemouth), Jorrel Hato (Chelsea), Estevao (Chelsea), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Luka Vuskovic (Brighton), Jon Martin (Real Sociedad), and Eli Junior Kroupi (Bournemouth), among others.
Also featuring is Real Madrid’s defensive target for the summer Finn Jeltsch of VfB Stuttgart, while Barcelona duo Xavi Espart and Marc Bernal also make the cut.
