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Manchester United remain optimistic about retaining academy prospect JJ Gabriel, despite Barcelona intensifying their pursuit of the teenage sensation. The 15-year-old and his family have been hosted by Barcelona at the Nou Camp on at least one recent occasion, receiving a comprehensive tour of the facilities as the Catalan giants attempt to entice the United youngster.

Barcelona's interest in Gabriel is well-established. During his trips to the Spanish city, Gabriel has met Barcelona players, and the club has made it abundantly clear they would welcome him to their prestigious La Masia academy at some stage. The England Under-16 international has long been regarded as one of the finest talents to come through United's academy in recent years, but his prolific scoring record for the Under-18s has thrust him into the spotlight this campaign.

He bagged a hat-trick in a 7-0 thrashing of Liverpool Under-18s at the weekend and has now found the net 10 times in as many matches this season. Gabriel has already participated in first-team training sessions, and Ruben Amorim has been questioned about his inclusion in senior practice.

"Like everyone, I know he is a really talented guy and everyone paid attention on social media," he said. "You could see the U21s had a game and we had less players and tried to pick players for training that have talent."

"Not just for me to see for tomorrow but for them to feel what it means to be in the first team, the difficulties playing against our defenders, the difficulty of our training, the pace. If we can use every training we have to show the kids what they need to do to be here, it is important, not just for JJ but for everyone."

Barcelona's pursuit of Gabriel has been ongoing for at least two years, and their interest remains undiminished. The forward's eligibility for an EU passport, courtesy of his father's Irish roots, would facilitate a smoother transition to European football.

However, United are resolute in their intention to retain Gabriel. Jason Wilcox, the club's director of football, was instrumental in outlining a clear career trajectory for the young striker and his family during the summer of 2025, and Amorim has shown keen interest in his progress.