Deco pushes to bring JJ Gabriel closer to Barcelona

The Barcelona sporting director is aware that this player has a bright future and wants to develop it at Camp Nou.

Héctor Andreu | 24 Sep 2026 | 13.11
twitter tiktok instagram instagram Comentarios
Preferir Fichajes.net en Google
<p>JJ Gabriel, priority for Deco and Barça / Marca</p>
<p>JJ Gabriel, priority for Deco and Barça / Marca</p>

UEFA Champions League
1 X 2
Atletico Madrid Man Utd
13/10/26 21:00:00
2.20 3.80 2.88

JJ Gabriel, a 15-year-old forward from Manchester United, maintains his intention to leave the English club and appears on Deco's wishlist for the upcoming transfer market at FC Barcelona, prompting intensified efforts to try to sign him. The player will turn 16 on October 6, a crucial date for defining his future, as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and PSG are also monitoring the situation.

Gabriel has formally expressed his desire to cancel his registration with United. The English club, where he is registered until the end of the season, is still trying to resolve the situation, engaging in discussions with the player's family.

JJ Gabriel Keeps FC Barcelona in the Race

FC Barcelona has intensified contacts regarding JJ Gabriel over the past few days. The player was recently in Barcelona, and his situation has been analyzed by the sports management as he approaches his 16th birthday.

According to reports from SPORT, the main competition comes from Real Madrid. Information from Spain places both clubs in a favorable position, while Bayern and PSG have also shown interest in a player who is still part of the youth ranks at Manchester United.

His performance justifies the attention. Gabriel scored 20 goals in 22 matches with the U18 team last season and netted a hat-trick in the UEFA Youth League this season. He also participated in the first team's preseason.

The split with United occurred after the player and his camp deemed his integration into the first team insufficient. While the club intended to gradually incorporate him, Gabriel later requested the cancellation of his registration.

Manchester United Attempts to Retain JJ Gabriel

The operation is subject to regulatory constraints. JJ Gabriel was born in England, but his family ties to Ireland and Cyprus could facilitate obtaining or using community documentation for a potential move to Europe.

The situation must also comply with FIFA regulations on international movements of minors, prompting both interested clubs and the player's entourage to study the legal conditions before finalizing any steps.

Barça aims to compete through its sports project. The possibility of progressing from youth ranks to the first team is highlighted as one of the arguments given by the club, which has granted playing time in LaLiga to several homegrown players in recent years.

Economic factors may also play a decisive role. Reports surrounding the deal indicate that Real Madrid has made a higher offer than Barcelona, although there is no publicly confirmed figure to quantify the difference between the two proposals.

Jorge Mendes Can Assist Deco

Another pending aspect is the player's representation. Ali Barat and Jorge Mendes are among the agents positioned to work with Gabriel when he reaches the appropriate age, while his family remains directly involved in career decisions.

Manchester United has not officially given up on retaining him. The club's CEO, Omar Berrada, and sporting director Jason Wilcox have been involved in discussions with the family, emphasizing the significance that the club places on the case.

October 6 now emerges as the next significant date. By then, JJ Gabriel will be 16 years old, and his camp will need to finalize both his representation and the next sporting step, with FC Barcelona seeking to position themselves for a potential future in LaLiga.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Deco presiona para acercar a JJ Gabriel al Barcelona