Man Utd wonderkid Gabriel trains in Barcelona after latest twist in transfer saga

Manchester United’s wantaway wonderkid JJ Gabriel has been training in Barcelona as he continues to attempt to leave Old Trafford.

The 15-year-old made a request to leave United last month and asked for his contract to be cancelled immediately. The Red Devils, however, did not grant that request and the row has shown no signs of ending with United keen to hang on to a player who is widely regarded as one of the best young prospects in the game.

Since his request to leave, Gabriel has been in Spain and, in an effort to remain fit, he has been training in Barcelona with private coach Jack Hunter at the British School Stadium in Castelldefels, per The Manchester Evening News.

Gabriel and his family are regular visitors to Barcelona and are keen to explore a move to the Camp Nou, while Real Madrid are thought to be among his suitors.

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"There's nothing to say about this boy," Barcelona sporting director Deco said at the Portugal Football Summit this week. "It's normal that players are linked with us. It always happens. There's a huge market for that with a lot of interests involved, even when [players] are young.

"But we are not interested in any player in his situation. I'm not sure what's happening, and if he's still a Manchester United player. We are not involved in that.

"First of all, we need to understand how the situation is before we try to do something. To speak about young, teenage players, it is not our business."

Gabriel is set to celebrate his 16th birthday next week, but he is not able to sign professional terms with any club until he turns 17. United boss Michael Carrick recently urged for calm when it comes to Gabriel’s future.

He said: "I’ll just repeat what I said [earlier this week]: he’s a young boy, it’s important we don’t put anything out here, the exposure and scrutiny we have to be careful.

"We have to be sensible and think about him. The situation will work itself out."

Before asking to leave the club, Gabriel was thought to be on the verge of a breakthrough into the first team under Carrick. He was expected to be given his debut in a Carabao Cup clash with Brighton - a game that United ended up losing 3-2 despite having gone 2-0 up through goals from Shea Lacey and Mason Mount.

In the end, Gabriel was left out of the side, with his last appearance for the Red Devils coming in a 5-0 win against Sabah in the UEFA Youth League last month.