Barcelona not completely ruled out of race for 16-year-old talent despite Real Madrid agreement

Barcelona have not completely abandoned their pursuit of Manchester United wonderkid JJ Gabriel despite Real Madrid moving closer to securing his signature. 

According to SPORT, the 16-year-old forward’s future remains undecided because no contract has been signed with Los Blancos yet, leaving Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain hoping to change the situation.

Real Madrid have reportedly reached a verbal agreement with Gabriel over a potential move, with the Spanish giants targeting January to bring him to the club. 

However, the absence of a signed contract means the other interested clubs have not entirely given up. 

Indeed, Real Madrid have made the most progress, although no club-to-club contact with Manchester United has taken place.

Barcelona retain hope despite Real Madrid’s progress

Barcelona are not completely out of JJ Gabriel race. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

According to the outlet, the teenager is attracted to Barcelona’s emphasis on developing young players and sees an opportunity to establish himself within the club’s long-term plans.

Bayern Munich have also maintained contact with the player’s representatives, although their chances are more limited. 

PSG remain another potential destination, but Real Madrid currently appear to have the advantage following their progress in negotiations.

Real Madrid’s proposal includes a multi-year contract, a significant salary, a signing bonus and agent commissions. In fact, the overall investment is understood to exceed €15 million.

Real Madrid are currently winning the race. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Notably, this is one of the biggest reasons why Barcelona have not made an official move yet, despite holding several meetings with the player’s agents.

What happens now?

Barcelona’s remaining opportunity could depend on whether they are prepared to reconsider their financial position. 

Gabriel’s attraction to the club’s development model gives Deco and the sporting department a potential advantage, but Real Madrid’s financial pull means time is becoming an important factor.

For now, despite what is being said, the fact of the matter is that there is still no agreement on paper, and until then, nothing can be ruled out.