Gabriel trains in Barcelona as Manchester United block 15-year-old's exit request

Manchester United’s 15-year-old prospect JJ Gabriel is training with a private coach in Castelldefels, Spain, after the club rejected his request to cancel his contract and leave Old Trafford.

Gabriel submitted a formal request to leave United last month, but the club refused to release him, insisting on retaining a player widely considered one of the most gifted young talents in European football. Since then, Gabriel — who turns 16 next week — has remained in Spain, working with coach Jack Hunter at the British School Stadium in Barcelona to stay fit while the impasse continues.

Gabriel and his family are reported to have a strong affinity with Barcelona, and a move to the Camp Nou has been explored. Real Madrid are also said to be monitoring his situation. However, Barcelona sporting director Deco moved swiftly to cool speculation at the Portugal Football Summit this week.

“There’s nothing to say about this boy,” Deco said. “It’s normal that players are linked with us. It always happens. There’s a huge market for that with a lot of interests involved, even when players are young. But we are not interested in any player in his situation. I’m not sure what’s happening, and if he’s still a Manchester United player. We are not involved in that. First of all, we need to understand how the situation is before we try to do something. To speak about young, teenage players, it is not our business.”

United head coach Michael Carrick has urged restraint in how the situation is handled publicly. “He’s a young boy — it’s important we don’t put anything out here. The exposure and scrutiny we have to be careful about,” Carrick said. “We have to be sensible and think about him. The situation will work itself out.”

Gabriel cannot sign professional terms with any club until he turns 17, meaning any resolution is still some way off regardless of how negotiations develop. Before the dispute emerged, he had been expected to make his senior debut in United’s Carabao Cup tie against Brighton — a match the club lost 3-2 after leading 2-0 through goals from Shea Lacey and Mason Mount. Gabriel was ultimately left out of the squad. His most recent appearance for the club came in a 5-0 UEFA Youth League victory over Sabah last month.