Trouble before the transfer! Real Madrid already concerned about 16-year-old wonderkid

JJ Gabriel hasn't even signed for Real Madrid yet, but the Spanish giants already have reasons to worry.

Details: According to The Sun, several Real Madrid officials are concerned about the influence of the 16-year-old English talent's father, Joe O'Cearuill, as the teenager approaches a move from Manchester United. The former professional footballer is reportedly extremely demanding when it comes to managing his son's career and previously had a tense relationship with the Manchester club.

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The newspaper reports that O'Cearuill's demanding approach played a significant role in Gabriel's decision to leave Manchester United. Disagreements over the youngster's development reportedly even escalated into public disputes on social media.

However, the player's father is not the only source of concern. Real Madrid officials were reportedly surprised by Gabriel's ambitious statement during an interview with Marca, in which he declared: "My dream is to win a Ballon d'Or." The teenager has yet to make an official senior appearance.

According to Sky Sports, Real Madrid have already reached a verbal agreement with Gabriel and are hoping to complete the transfer in January 2027. However, the deal has not been officially finalized, and the two clubs have yet to reach an agreement.

It's worth noting that Gabriel was named the inaugural Premier League Under-18 Player of the Season in 2025/26. At the time the award was announced, the English forward had scored 20 goals in just 21 league appearances for Manchester United.

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