Manchester United wonderkid JJ Gabriel is fielding persistent interest from Barcelona, according to a report.
The 15-year-old has emerged as the biggest prospect in the Red Devils’ academy, and it was seen as a real coup when Man Utd managed to keep hold of him in the summer.
Gabriel was out of contract and had offers from elite clubs around Europe, but director Jason Wilcox managed to convince the teenager and his family to stay put and sign a new contract.
The young attacker has been playing with Man Utd’s U18s this season and is currently scoring at a rate of one goal per game after netting a hat-trick against rivals Liverpool in a 7-0 demolition at the weekend.
Gabriel has been nicknamed ‘Kid Messi’ since going viral for his skills at a young age, and his performances have attracted the attention of senior head coach Ruben Amorim, who has allowed him to take part in first-team training on several occasions since October.
Barcelona attempt to sign Gabriel
However, according to The Sun, Man Utd are fighting a major battle to keep hold of their teenage prodigy. That is because Barcelona are making a ‘serious effort’ to sign Gabriel.
The LaLiga giants were likely in the mix to sign the wonderkid already in the summer, and they are not willing to give up just yet despite his contract extension.
This season, Amorim has faced criticism for his refusal to utilise academy talent, namely Kobbie Mainoo, so the news of Barcelona’s persistent interest has caused some consternation among the Red Devils’ fanbase.
The Blaugrana have a great track record of integrating talent from their famed La Masia academy into the first team and could perhaps present a clearer pathway to elite football for Gabriel.
However, as things stand, the youngster remains on the books at Man Utd and appears content with his decision to stay in the summer. The report does not provide much information on Barcelona’s ‘effort’ to sign Gabriel, so it seems that there is no reason to panic yet.
A lot will ultimately depend on the terms Man Utd will be able to offer Gabriel once he becomes eligible to sign his first professional contract.
