JJ Gabriel revealed why he decided to choose the "Real” team

2026-11-07 11:18 © zumapress

16-year-old talent JJ Gabriel revealed why he decided to choose Real Madrid.

In an exclusive interview with Marca, the young forward confirmed that the Spanish capital club is his priority, rather than Barcelona.

The footballer is currently training individually in Madrid, while his representative, Ali Barat, is negotiating with Real Madrid’s management.

The young talent was also delighted by the Marca newspaper cover dedicated to him. After seeing it, the footballer smiled and asked: "Can I keep it?”

"Real Madrid is a better option for me. My dream is to win the Ballon d’Or,” JJ Gabriel continued.

The Madrid club would like to include JJ Gabriel in its second team, Castilla, from which Vinícius and Federico Valverde previously broke into the first team.

However, the official transfer is being held up by the player’s registration with Manchester United. Since Gabriel also holds an Irish passport, he may qualify for a FIFA rules exception allowing minors to move within the European Union under certain conditions. It is hoped that the deal can be completed in January.

The English club will receive approximately £350,000 in compensation for the player it developed.