Barcelona sporting director Deco has responded to speculation linking the club with Manchester United academy prospect JJ Gabriel, a highly rated 15-year-old attracting attention from several of Europe’s leading clubs. Speaking to journalist Ben Jacobs, Deco played down any suggestion that Barcelona are actively pursuing a deal, insisting there is nothing concrete to report on the teenager’s situation.
The comments come amid growing reports that Gabriel wants to leave Manchester United as he approaches his 16th birthday. Nothing in Deco’s remarks points to a submitted bid, an agreement, or a completed transfer — only that Barcelona, like several other clubs, have been named in the ongoing speculation.
What Has Been Reported About Gabriel’s Future
Gabriel has emerged as one of the most talked-about names in Manchester United’s academy setup, with reports suggesting he no longer sees his long-term future at Old Trafford. GiveMeSport reported that the youngster had already been in Barcelona for transfer talks, while other major European clubs have also been credited with interest, echoing the kind of early jostling Barcelona showed over Cavan Sullivan earlier this month.
Christian Falk, writing in his CF Bayern Insider column, named Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Real Madrid as the clubs showing the strongest interest in Gabriel. Falk’s reporting frames the situation around a specific date: 6 October, when Gabriel turns 16 and becomes eligible to be represented by an agency, a threshold that will shape whatever comes next.
Barcelona’s Stance and the Rival Interest
Deco’s tone with Jacobs was notably guarded. He said it is normal for Barcelona to be linked with young players given the scale of interest that follows promising teenagers, but stressed that the club are not interested in any player in Gabriel’s current situation and are unsure exactly what is happening with his registration at Manchester United. He added that Barcelona are not involved in the matter and would first need to understand the full picture before considering any move — language that underlines the caution surrounding reports on underage prospects, including Hamza Abdelkarim.
That distancing sits alongside Falk’s reporting that Bayern Munich, PSG and Real Madrid are also being mentioned in connection with Gabriel, underlining that the reported interest is spread across several elite clubs rather than concentrated on one favourite. None of this amounts to confirmed negotiations or offers on either side, and Barcelona’s own recent business in this bracket — such as the signing of Jesse Bisiwu — shows the club tends to move only once a situation is genuinely clear.
The Next Decision Point for JJ Gabriel
The most concrete date in the saga remains 6 October, when Gabriel turns 16. According to Falk, that milestone will allow him to join the Epic agency, and he reports that a decision has already been made within Gabriel’s camp that he will leave Manchester United.
What is not established is which club, if any, will end up signing him. Deco’s comments leave Barcelona’s position unresolved rather than ruled out entirely, and with several major European sides now named in the reporting, the coming weeks around Gabriel’s 16th birthday are likely to bring more clarity than currently exists.
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