A compensation fee would be due to United if Gabriel joined Madrid or any other team. Madrid have been approached for comment.Gabriel walked out on United in September and is believed to be training in Spain.
A move to Madrid offers the prospect of progression to senior football via their B team, Castilla, who play in the regionalised Spanish third tier.Gabriel made his United debut in a pre-season friendly against Atlético Madrid in Stockholm on August at the age of 15 and had been training with the first team. If he had not informed United of his wish to depart, he would have been in Michael Carrick’s squad for the 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat by Brighton on 16 September.
Had Gabriel featured, he would have become the youngest player in the club’s history.Gabriel last season became the youngest winner of United’s academy player of the year award and was the Premier League’s Under-18 player of the season.