Real Madrid Close to Signing 16-Year-Old JJ Gabriel, AS Reports

What happened

Real Madrid are close to completing the signing of 16-year-old attacking midfielder JJ Gabriel, according to the Spanish outlet AS. The report describes the deal as closed in unofficial terms but still pending minor details, and says Gabriel has already been training in Madrid for several days while awaiting the formal signature. He is expected to begin with Castilla, the club's reserve side.

Report details

AS describes Gabriel as a right-footed attacking midfielder who can also drop to the left flank, and calls him a current sensation and a promise for the future. The report frames the move as part of Real Madrid's broader strategy of identifying talent before it attracts widespread attention and becomes expensive, citing Vinicius, Rodrygo and Valverde as jewels the club detected early who went on to become diamonds.

The same article notes that not every such bet has paid off, naming Odegaard, Peeters and Reinier among the moves that did not work out, and it highlights the risk attached to these kinds of wagers on young players. The signing has not been officially confirmed by the club, per the report.