Barcelona is reportedly intensifying its pursuit of Manchester United’s 15-year-old academy talent, JJ Gabriel.
The versatile attacker has impressed for United’s Under-18s, scoring ten goals in ten games, including a hat-trick against Liverpool. His dual nationality allows for a potential move at age 16.
According to a report from Metro, Barcelona have increased their pursuit of Manchester United’s young prospect JJ Gabriel, believed to have scored ten goals in ten Under-18 outings this season, a tally that reportedly places him among the club’s most promising talents.
The Catalan club are said to view Gabriel as a long-term investment, hoping to lure him to their famed youth system.
Meanwhile, United are not sitting idle: their hierarchy, including academy and first-team staff, are understood to be making a concerted effort to reassure Gabriel’s family of the club’s commitment to his development.
Recent developments at Old Trafford underscore the value United place on the youngster: Gabriel was temporarily promoted to first-team training, with senior-team sessions used as a tool to expose him, and other promising youth players — to the demands of top-level football.
The report notes that this emerging tug-of-war comes at a delicate moment, as Premier League clubs increasingly face pressure to protect young talents from foreign poaching.
For Manchester United, the challenge will be to balance Gabriel’s development path with efforts to retain a homegrown gem under the mounting interest from abroad.