Barcelona reportedly made several attempts to secure the signature of Manchester United youngster JJ Gabriel before Real Madrid moved ahead of their rivals in the race to sign the highly rated teenager.

According to a report by Barca Universal on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, the Catalan giants viewed the 16-year-old as one of the most promising young talents to emerge in recent years, with sporting director Deco personally overseeing efforts to bring him to Camp Nou.

Gabriel's future has become a major talking point in recent months amid reports that he was considering leaving Manchester United. Several top European clubs have reportedly shown interest in signing the youngster, with Barcelona initially among the strongest contenders.

However, Real Madrid appear to have gained the upper hand, with the Spanish giants reportedly emerging as the teenager's preferred destination.

Journalist Ben Fernandes Santos has revealed further details about Barcelona's pursuit, explaining that Deco held multiple meetings with Gabriel's representatives in an attempt to convince him to join the club.

The Portuguese sporting director was said to be particularly impressed by the youngster's potential and believed he could develop into an outstanding footballer in the future.

Barcelona also outlined a development pathway that would allow Gabriel to progress through the club while building his career. However, the teenager reportedly preferred a move to Real Madrid, making it difficult for the Catalan side to reach an agreement.

His apparent desire to join their Spanish rivals has left Barcelona disappointed despite Deco's efforts to secure his services.

The latest reports also appear to differ from comments made by Deco in September, when he indicated that Barcelona were not actively pursuing the Manchester United prospect.

Nevertheless, the Catalan club still have several talented youngsters within their academy who could become important members of the first team in the coming years.

One of the standout prospects is 16-year-old Ebrima Tunkara, who took part in pre-season preparations under manager Hansi Flick and has already been included in several senior matchday squads.

The youngster is now approaching an opportunity to make his first-team debut for the club.

Barcelona can therefore continue concentrating on developing their existing academy prospects rather than pursuing every highly rated youngster in the transfer market, as nurturing young talent remains a key part of their long-term strategy.