According to a report by Barca Universal on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, Barcelona made several attempts to sign Manchester United youngster JJ Gabriel before Real Madrid reportedly moved ahead of their rivals in the race for the highly rated teenager.

The Catalan giants reportedly identified the 16 year old as one of the most promising young talents in European football, with sporting director Deco personally taking responsibility for efforts to convince him to move to Camp Nou.

Gabriel's future has attracted considerable attention in recent months amid speculation that he could leave Manchester United. Several leading European clubs have reportedly expressed interest in securing his signature, with Barcelona initially considered one of the strongest contenders.

However, Real Madrid now appear to have gained an advantage, with reports suggesting that the teenager favours a move to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Journalist Ben Fernandes Santos has provided further details about Barcelona's pursuit, revealing that Deco held several meetings with Gabriel's representatives in an attempt to persuade the youngster to choose the Catalan club.

The Portuguese sporting director was reportedly impressed by Gabriel's technical ability and potential, believing he could develop into an important player in the future.

Barcelona also presented a development plan designed to help the teenager progress through the club's youth system before eventually establishing himself in the senior team. Despite those efforts, Gabriel reportedly showed a stronger preference for joining Real Madrid, making negotiations increasingly difficult for the Spanish champions.

His apparent interest in moving to their domestic rivals represents a setback for Barcelona, particularly considering the personal involvement of Deco in the negotiations.

The latest revelations also appear to contrast with comments made by Deco in September, when he suggested that Barcelona were not actively pursuing the Manchester United prospect.

Nevertheless, the Catalan club already have several promising youngsters within their academy who could become important members of Hansi Flick's first team squad.

One of the players attracting attention is 16 year old Ebrima Tunkara, who participated in Barcelona's pre-season preparations and has already been included in several senior matchday squads.

The youngster is gradually moving closer to an opportunity to make his first-team debut.

Barcelona can therefore continue focusing on developing their existing academy talents rather than making every highly rated teenager in the transfer market a priority. Developing young players remains an important part of the club's long-term sporting strategy.