Manchester United’s unhappy teenage star JJ Gabriel has flown to Barcelona for talks with the Catalan giants.
Since Gabriel rocked United with a bombshell demand to quit the club, he has been strongly linked with Barca and their La Liga rivals Real Madrid.
Barcelona have been keen on Gabriel for some time and gave him a tour of their club facilities in August 2024 when he was introduced to superstar Lamine Yamal who signed a shirt and posed for a photo.
The 15-year-old has not been seen at United since he scored a hat-trick for the Under-21s on his UEFA Youth League debut against Sabah on Thursday.
Gabriel, who has been at United since the age of 11, is seen as one of the hottest young prospects in European football. Although English players are only able to move abroad at the age of 18, he is eligible to join a European team at 16 because he holds an Irish passport.
He was set to sign a first-year scholarship at United at the age 16, which would have automatically triggered a lucrative professional contract on his 17th birthday. However, the winger has asked United to rip up his current deal which is due to expire at the end of the season.
The club have so far refused to do so, and head coach Michael Carrick said at his press conference on Friday that the youngster’s wellbeing remains paramount regardless of his future at Old Trafford.
‘I think I'd just repeat what I said the other day, really,’ said Carrick. ‘He's a young boy, JJ, and I think it's important that we certainly don't play anything out here. I think the exposure and the scrutiny and everything, you’ve got to be careful and be sensible and think of him as much as anything.
‘So the situation will work itself out, whatever way it's going to work itself out. Making sure he's okay is the important thing.’
OverloadElidemaskino
0
get that stupid rat 🐁 out of the club. these lads doesn't appreciate for the opportunity given to them by Manchester United except Kobbie Mainoo Amas and Lacey. imagine a 15 year old boy with such an attitude trying to complicate things and creat chaos among the academy believing to breakthrough in future. what a little but dangerous poison
namelmuy
0
The lad's future is of concern to him. No one is willing to trade his future with a nonserious team. United is a complete flop. No serious player will want to associate himself with a team like that. They should forget about JJ and think about themselves. Relegation is loading.
and who do you think he is going to bench in Barcelona first team or in Madrid first team is it Yamal or gorden or Fermine lopez or adeyemi. or vinisiuse or mbape or diamond or Bellingham.
Kadeikmnp
2
bayram Munich vs union
nuzamoprs
0
The lad's future is of concern to him. No one is willing to trade his future with a nonserious team. United is a complete flop. No serious player will want to associate himself with a team like that. They should forget about JJ and think about themselves. Relegation is loading.
Naokmptuz
0
you have done us bad young man
he is a Teenager far from young man
Naokmptuz
0
what was that promise
I am sure he doesn't know and can't tell what the promise is. Some fans just speak to justify what they don't even understand not to talk of knowing
AFerRelf0958
2
He could have stayed and signed contract then ask to leave for Barcelona so United could at least get some money from his departure but he is only considering himself .
You’re so right! Which is why I don’t understand FC Barcelona fans being upset with Ousmane, he left for money, and if anything that amount being so low, was on the part of the board, who also didn’t want him to play for a chunk of the season, when Xavi decided to play him on his own authority.
Wikceorz
0
Man utd failed on their "gentleman agreement" with his father. You broke your promise to the kid and his father and you want him to honour his part of the deal? It doesn't work that way. Should be both ways
what was that promise
Amonconn
2
He could have stayed and signed contract then ask to leave for Barcelona so United could at least get some money from his departure but he is only considering himself .
boweklosuy
0
Thos is football. He has his own dreams
You only say that when it’s a player from another team lol. If it was Lamine and if that was your team you would be crying crocodile tears lol
vezabdekr
1
LET HIM GO. We dont know the underlying release..but free him.
boweklosuy
0
Man utd failed on their "gentleman agreement" with his father. You broke your promise to the kid and his father and you want him to honour his part of the deal? It doesn't work that way. Should be both ways
No one is greater than Utd.
boweklosuy
0
Another Gharnacho loading...............
Let him go Garnacho apologized later.
boweklosuy
0
He should leave. They won’t be able to control him if he stays.
Binlause
0
I knew that he was going to Barcelona
MukisaGerald
5
Another Gharnacho loading...............
obrigado900
0
Man utd failed on their "gentleman agreement" with his father. You broke your promise to the kid and his father and you want him to honour his part of the deal? It doesn't work that way. Should be both ways
yebilmnptz
3
No gem will refuse barca at this time, their long term future is bright, the club seems to be fully ready to integrate under 20th talent into the 1st team and 70 of them are already competing at highest level now, from the likes of lamine, cubarsi, xavi espart, bernal, jesse bisiwu, hamza abduldul kareem, while a young prosfect like embrima tunkara and josue caicedo will soon join the first team having to start preseason with club, all of whom’s are assume to be the best and talented players in their position, if jj gabriel, ruud nijstad and kees smit join, barca under 20th squad into 1st team seems to be fully occupied and ready for the future
Rais421
0
these guys think as if they are born legend too much greedy
Ruzairstu
0
continue hyping and exposing your academy prodigies.
adedefender
1
Thos is football. He has his own dreams
topbclsuy
0
come to Barca bro. You'll never regret your choice
God for bid
jiwdmnorsy
5
come to Barca bro. You'll never regret your choice
Lunimntz
2
you have done us bad young man