At 16, footballer JJ Gabriel dreams of winning the Ballon d’Or
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Business Day Nigeria
JJ Gabriel, a 16-year-old English forward still registered with Manchester United, says he wants to win the Ballon d’Or. The young player is training in Spain after leaving the club with his family, while a verbal agreement with Real Madrid is mentioned by sources cited by the BBC, reports Business Day.
JJ Gabriel, a 16-year-old forward under contract with Manchester United, says he wants to win the Ballon d’Or as Real Madrid seeks to sign him. The young player is currently training in Spain after leaving the English club with his family, according to Business Day Nigeria, which cites Marca in particular.
Gabriel is reported to have reached a verbal agreement with Real Madrid and his representatives, but no official contract has yet been signed between the two clubs, according to BBC Sport. Manchester United could receive a fee if the player leaves, with the amount potentially being lower if he joins a club outside the Premier League.
The young forward obtained a European Union passport, which should facilitate his transfer to a club outside England, according to Business Day Nigeria. He had scored a hat-trick on his UEFA Youth League debut and had been named Premier League Under-18 Player of the Season when he was only 14 at the start of the campaign.
The situation comes after Gabriel’s departure from Manchester United, announced on 4 November during the dismissal of the president of the Somali Supreme Court.
