JJ Gabriel makes Barcelona decision as Manchester United exit looms | OneFootball

The transfer window may be closed, but Barcelona are already working towards their latest signing: JJ Gabriel. The 15-year-old has reportedly communicated his desire to leave Manchester United with immediate, and it is no surprise that those within Can Barca are lining up a move – although they do face competition from a whole host of clubs, including Real Madrid.

Gabriel is considered to be one of the best players in his age group, and despite only being 15, he has been on the brink of making his senior debut at Old Trafford for some time. However, the fact that he’s not done so is one of the reasons why he’s keen to leave as soon as possible, which is good news for Barcelona.

When news first broke of Gabriel’s desire to leave, Man United immediately went on the offensive to convince him to stay. However, these efforts have been in vain, with Sport reporting that his agent Ali Barat has already informed the Premier League giants that he will not sign a professional contract when he turns 16 next month.

Gabriel prefers to join Barcelona or Real Madrid

Gabriel’s 16th birthday is on the 6th of October, at which point he is eligible to sign a professional contract with another club. Man United have given up hope of keeping him, and it is taken for granted that he will not stay in England, with four clubs emerged as leading contenders: Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain.

Interestingly, Sport’s report notes that Gabriel is prioritising a move to Spain, meaning that Barcelona are one of the two favourites to secure his signature if/when leaves Man United. Given that they have a clear pathway to the first team for younger players, they will surely fancy their chances of bringing him to the Spotify Camp Nou.