Ryan Giggs urges JJ Gabriel to be patient amid Real Madrid move

Ryan Giggs believes JJ Gabriel could be making a mistake by leaving Manchester United before establishing himself at senior level, with Real Madrid reportedly closing in on a deal for the highly-rated youngster.

The former United winger has urged the teenager to look at Max Dowman's situation at Arsenal before making his next career move. Dowman has impressed with his performances despite his young age, but regular first-team football has not yet become part of his routine.

Gabriel's potential departure has attracted considerable attention, particularly after the forward reportedly informed United of his desire to leave. Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona were among the clubs linked with him, but Real Madrid have now emerged as his preferred destination.

According to Florian Plettenberg, negotiations between the Spanish club and Gabriel's representatives have progressed, with a verbal agreement reportedly in place. A move is being targeted for January 1, although a medical has not yet been scheduled.

Giggs, speaking to Rio Ferdinand's YouTube channel, questioned the need for Gabriel to change clubs at this stage of his development.

"So far in his career everything is going fine, why would you disrupt that? You're on the right track," he said.

The Welshman explained that reaching the first-team environment is only the beginning, and that young players must be prepared for the demands of a full season at the highest level.

He drew on his own experience at Old Trafford, recalling that he trained with the senior squad at 15 but had to wait another two years before making his first-team debut.

"I trained at 15, I didn't play for the first team until two years later so you have to have that patience that people just don't seem to have at the moment," Giggs added.

For Giggs, Dowman's current situation is a useful illustration of why a gradual route into senior football should not be viewed as a setback.

"Max Dowman is unbelievable but he's not playing for Arsenal at the moment. I'm sure he'll bide his time, I'm sure he's getting impatient, but he's not kicking off, he knows in a couple of years time he might be the main man for Arsenal," he said.

Gabriel now appears to be edging towards a move to the Spanish capital, but Giggs' comments underline the wider question facing young prospects: whether joining a European giant immediately is the best route to regular first-team football.