Barcelona sporting director Deco has officially addressed the mounting speculation linking the club with a move for highly-rated Manchester United teenager JJ Gabriel. He recently had his say while speaking to the press, and fans have been reacting.
Revealing that Barcelona are not currently vying for the youngster’s signature, Deco stated that he has nothing to say about JJ Gabriel.
He added that the club would need to understand all the circumstances involved in the deal before approaching the wonderkid.
His words, “There’s nothing to say about this boy. It’s common for certain players to be linked with us. As for his situation, I don’t know what happened. It’s a matter we’re not involved in because, first and foremost, we need to understand all the circumstances before trying to do anything or talking about young players.”
Joseph Junior Andreou O’Cearuill, commonly known as JJ Gabriel, is an English footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Manchester United.
Gabriel was born to Joe O’Cearuill and a Greek-Cypriot mother. He grew up in London and developed his skills at top academies including Chelsea, Arsenal and West Ham United’s. By age nine, Gabriel gained widespread attention after a viral YouTube video earned him the nickname “Kid Messi”. In March 2025, he signed a long-term sponsorship deal with Nike.
Gabriel made his England U17 debut on 25 March 2026 during a 2027 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification match against Faroe Islands at St George’s Park National Football Centre.
His father Joe O’Cearuill is a former professional footballer and played for the Republic of Ireland.
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