Deco distances Barcelona from JJ Gabriel as Man Utd race to keep 15-year-old

Barcelona sporting director Deco has moved to distance his club from speculation linking them to Manchester United academy prospect JJ Gabriel, stating he is ‘not interested in any player in his situation’ — but the 15-year-old’s future at Old Trafford remains unresolved with a critical deadline looming.

Gabriel, who joined United aged 11, has informed the club of his intention to leave, with his family reportedly believing his development would be better served elsewhere. United have fewer than two weeks to find a resolution before he turns 16 on 6 October, at which point he becomes eligible for formal agent representation and, crucially, can sign for a foreign club using his Irish passport.

Reports from Spain earlier this week suggested Gabriel had already visited both Madrid and Barcelona, with claims that he had reached a ‘first major agreement’ with one of the two clubs. Deco, speaking to journalist Ben Jacobs, was careful in his response without fully closing the door.

“There’s nothing to say about this boy, it’s normal we always have players linked with us,” Deco said. “There’s a huge market for that, even when they are young. We are not interested in any player in his situation. I am not sure what’s happening, and if he’s still a Manchester United player. We are not involved in that.”

He added: “First of all, we need to understand how the situation is before we try to do something. And to speak about young, teenage players, it is not our business.”

Despite the transfer uncertainty, Gabriel has continued to impress on the pitch. He scored a hat-trick on his UEFA Youth League debut against Sabah last Thursday, underlining the talent that has attracted attention from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Gabriel had been in line to make his first-team debut against Brighton in the Carabao Cup, but was left out of the squad following his departure request — a decision that reflects the difficult position United now find themselves in.

The club’s hierarchy are refusing to terminate Gabriel’s existing contract, which runs until the end of the season, partly for financial reasons. Should they choose to cancel the agreement, United could reportedly receive as little as £300 in compensation — a stark figure given the level of interest the youngster has generated across Europe.

United officials remain unclear on the precise reasons behind Gabriel’s desire to leave a club he has been with for four years, and the coming days are likely to prove decisive in determining where one of English football’s most talked-about teenage prospects will continue his development.