Real Madrid have accelerated their interest in JJ Gabriel in an effort to clinch the teenager’s signature in January and put him on a fast-track pathway to the club’s first-team squad.

Telegraph Sport exclusively revealed in September that Gabriel had informed Manchester United of his desire to leave the club and cancel his registration.

The 16-year-old forward can take advantage of a Brexit loophole thanks to his qualification for a European passport through his parents and join an overseas club in the next transfer window.

Paris St-Germain and Bayern Munich have expressed an interest in Gabriel, but, as reported by Telegraph Sport at the start of October, Real have been at the front of the queue for some time.

Real have accelerated that long-standing interest in recent weeks, with Spanish sources saying that the club have put together a projected fast-track pathway for Gabriel towards the first team. Jose Mourinho, the Real Madrid manager, is said to be aware of the player and his talent.

While Gabriel may have to initially play for Real’s Castilla team, which competes in Spain’s third division, the belief among club insiders is that he will not have to wait long for first-team minutes, either in La Liga or the Champions League.

Gabriel’s decision to leave United and his projected move to Real has prompted plenty of debate and criticism. But, in Spain, it is viewed as no different to Cesc Fabregas quitting Barcelona to join Arsenal as a 16-year-old in 2003. Fabregas made his senior debut for the Gunners less than two months after the move.

Gabriel did not make his senior debut for United and was left out of the club’s Champions League squad for the league phase of this season’s competition, despite last season becoming the youngest winner of the club’s Jimmy Murphy young-player-of-the-year award. He scored a hat-trick against Sabah in the Uefa Youth League shortly before asking to quit Old Trafford.

It is believed that Gabriel is yet to sign a contract with Real and United insist there has been no club-to-club contact. But the Spanish club are now working towards clinching his move in the January transfer window with United powerless to stop it.

Since informing United of his desire to leave, Gabriel has travelled to Spain and has worked with a personal trainer to remain fit and sharp. The focus for those who worked with Gabriel for United has been a duty of care to the player, although contact is said to have been extremely limited.

Gabriel celebrated his 16th birthday on October 6, meaning he can officially sign with an agent. Ali Barat, the owner of Epic Sports, is believed to be in the box seat to look after him and the super agent has the necessary licence to represent minors.