Manchester United teenager JJ Gabriel has reversed his decision to wipe his Instagram account and continues to be linked with a move to Barcelona as he approaches his 16th birthday on Tuesday.
The 15-year-old requested to leave Old Trafford last month, a request United declined. He had appeared to be on course for a place in Michael Carrick's first-team setup before seeking to have his registration cancelled.
Academy impact and Carrick's caution
Gabriel netted 26 goals in 29 appearances for United's academy last season and claimed the U18 Premier League Player of the Season award. He is yet to make his senior debut, though he featured for Carrick's side throughout pre-season.
"I'll just repeat what I said: he's a young boy, it's important we don't put anything out here, the exposure and scrutiny we have to be careful," Carrick said. "We have to be sensible and think about him. The situation will work itself out."
Gabriel could have made his senior bow against Brighton in the Carabao Cup last month but was omitted from the squad following his request to leave, fuelling speculation over potential moves to Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Social media ban reversed
Shortly before it emerged that he had requested United cancel his registration, Gabriel wiped his Instagram account of all content in September. He subsequently reversed that decision, restoring three posts to his page last month.
Two of the posts featured Gabriel, who commands 857,000 followers, putting pen to paper on Nike deals in 2021 and 2025, with the latter outlined as a long-term contract. The other displayed the teenager collecting his U18 Player of the Season accolade and posing alongside the Premier League's all-time leading scorer Alan Shearer.
The 15-year-old also posted training clips on his Instagram stories. The footage was initially shared by football coach Jack Hunter, with whom he works individually.
Training in Barcelona and United timeline
Gabriel has lately spent time training in Barcelona, intensifying speculation over a potential switch to the Spanish giants. The Manchester Evening News reported that the United academy talent has been working with his personal coach Hunter and other specialist coaches in Castelldefels.
He has not trained at United's Carrington facility since lodging his request to leave. Gabriel has regularly visited Barcelona, with his family eager for him to join the Catalan outfit. Real Madrid are also understood to hold an interest in the youngster.
United are confronting a race against time to reach a resolution before Gabriel turns 16 on Tuesday. This milestone could enable the attacking midfielder to join a club overseas, as the England U17 international also possesses a European passport.
United cannot offer Gabriel a professional contract until his 17th birthday and are equally unable to prevent him from moving abroad. Despite this, Barcelona sporting director Deco recently downplayed interest in Gabriel.
"There's nothing to say about this boy," Deco said at the Portugal Football Summit. "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."
