Deco Dismisses Barcelona Links to Manchester United Teenager JJ Gabriel

Barcelona sporting director Deco stated the club is not monitoring 15-year-old JJ Gabriel despite the forward's request to leave Manchester United.

Barcelona sporting director Deco confirmed at the Portugal Football Summit that the Spanish champions have no interest in signing Manchester United teenager JJ Gabriel. The 15-year-old forward formally requested to leave the English club earlier in September, seeking to cancel his registration before he becomes eligible for a scholarship contract on his 16th birthday, Oct. 6. Deco stated that the Catalan side is not involved in the situation and emphasized that the club needs to understand the circumstances before considering any move for teenage players.

Gabriel has spent four years at Old Trafford and recently scored a hat trick during his UEFA Youth League debut against Sabah on Sept. 10. Although he made his senior debut during United's preseason fixtures, he requested his departure just before a Carabao Cup match against Brighton, a fixture in which he was scheduled to be part of the first-team squad. Both Barcelona and Real Madrid had been linked to the young attacker following reports of his desire to exit the Premier League side.

Manchester United coach Michael Carrick remains involved in discussions regarding the player's future, as the club has not entirely abandoned efforts to retain him. Sources told ESPN that United officials were surprised by Gabriel's decision to leave with immediate effect and are unclear on his specific motivations. While the forward remains a Manchester United player for now, Deco reiterated that the Spanish club is not currently pursuing any player in Gabriel's specific situation.