Real Madrid and Barcelona lead race to sign Manchester United's JJ Gabriel as teenager turns 16

Manchester United face losing academy prospect JJ Gabriel to a European rival now that the teenager has turned 16, making him eligible to sign with an EU club under FIFA regulations. Real Madrid and Barcelona have both held talks over a deal, while Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are also monitoring the situation.

Gabriel’s representatives submitted a request for him to leave Old Trafford last month, reportedly frustrated after the then-15-year-old was omitted from the squad for United’s Champions League fixture against Sabah and subsequently missed out on appearances against Brighton in the Carabao Cup and Bournemouth in the Premier League. United had planned to hand Gabriel his debut against Brighton — a night that would have made him the youngest player in the club’s history — before his camp moved to force a departure.

The teenager has spent recent weeks training in Castelldefels, Barcelona, as uncertainty over his future has continued. Barcelona’s sporting director Deco has publicly downplayed his club’s interest, though talks between both Spanish giants and Gabriel’s camp are understood to have taken place. Both Madrid and Barcelona are acutely aware of the regulatory sensitivities involved in signing players under the age of 18.

Should Gabriel leave England, United would be entitled to only a modest training compensation fee — estimated at between £100,000 and £300,000, with figures of around £250,000 circulating — reflecting his time in the academy rather than any market-rate transfer fee. The club can now formally offer Gabriel a scholarship deal following his 16th birthday, a step United are expected to take in order to protect their compensation entitlement. The case of Louie Barry, who left West Brom for Barcelona on a free transfer after FIFA ruled the club had not offered him a scholarship, serves as a cautionary precedent.

Any club acquiring Gabriel’s registration must apply to FIFA and demonstrate it can meet obligations around football development, education, and player welfare, though such requirements are generally considered a formality for clubs of this stature.

Super agent Ali Barat, founder of Epic Sports, is understood to be central to Gabriel’s camp as they navigate a potential move. Barat has brokered several high-profile transfers in recent years and is regarded as an increasingly influential figure in the agency world.

United are also said to be weighing their legal options as the saga develops, given the circumstances surrounding the original departure request.