Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, has firmly rejected reports linking his club to Manchester United academy prospect JJ Gabriel. Speaking at a press conference, he clarified that the Spanish giants have no intention of pursuing the 15-year-old forward.
Gabriel recently traveled to Barcelona after informing Manchester United earlier this month that he wishes to leave Old Trafford. His emergence has attracted interest from several top European clubs, including Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain.
“There is nothing to be said about this boy,” Deco stated. “It is normal for us to be linked with players; there is a huge market for that, even among teenagers. However, we are not interested in any player in his situation. I am not certain of the details regarding his status at Manchester United, but we are not involved in that matter.”
The Barcelona official emphasized that the club needs to fully comprehend the circumstances before taking any action. “When it comes to young, teenage players, this is not our business,” he added, indicating a reluctance to engage in speculation surrounding minors.
Gabriel has not trained with the Manchester United first team since scoring a hat-trick on his UEFA Youth League debut on September 10. While tournament regulations prohibit him from competing for another side in the current youth campaign, his eligibility for senior football may change soon.
If Gabriel secures an EU passport through his father, a former Republic of Ireland international, or his mother, who holds Greek-Cypriot heritage, he could become eligible to sign for a European club upon turning 16 on October 6.
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick previously called for restraint, urging the public and media to be “careful and sensible” about the intense scrutiny placed on the young athlete.
I wonder if Gabriel actually wants to leave or if his agents are just playing the transfer market game already.
Deco is doing the right thing by staying out of this. Let United handle their own teenager quietly.