JJ Gabriel takes part in Barcelona training

Manchester United have long prided themselves on producing players capable of making the journey from Carrington to Old Trafford.

That tradition has remained one of the club’s biggest selling points, with generations of academy graduates going on to become first-team regulars and household names.

It is also why the rise of JJ Gabriel has generated so much excitement around the club over the past year.

The teenager has repeatedly played above his age group and quickly established himself as one of the most talked-about prospects in the English academy system.

Last season, he scored 26 goals and provided 4 assists in 29 appearances across competitions for United’s Under-18s.

He also became the youngest-ever winner of the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award, before becoming the inaugural Premier League Under-18 Player of the Season after scoring 20 goals in 21 league appearances.

The latest development, however, has seen JJ Gabriel continue his training away from Manchester as his future at United remains increasingly uncertain.

JJ Gabriel takes part in Barcelona training

The 15-year-old has been working individually with private coach Jack Hunter in Castelldefels, Barcelona, according to the Manchester Evening News, having not trained at Carrington for more than two weeks.

Gabriel has also worked with local specialist coaches during his time in Spain, while his family have regularly visited Barcelona.

The teenager is due to turn 16 on October 6, making the coming days particularly significant for his future.

Gabriel’s situation has developed rapidly since he informed United that he wanted to leave the club and have his registration cancelled.

United rejected that request and have continued trying to convince him to remain, while the youngster’s camp has reportedly been looking towards a move away from England.

Reports have suggested that United’s decline over the past decade is a major factor behind the decision, with Gabriel’s camp believing he would benefit from learning at a club currently competing more regularly for major honours.

The reasoning being reported is not simply about getting first-team football, but also about joining an environment where winning major trophies is viewed as a more regular expectation.

Gabriel’s form has continued into the new season, too.

He scored a hat-trick on his UEFA Youth League debut against Sabah and had already registered goals and assists for the Under-21s.

He had also trained with the first team and featured during pre-season against Atletico Madrid, meaning United were accelerating his development despite his age.

In fact, reports indicated that Michael Carrick was prepared to include him in the squad for the Carabao Cup meeting with Brighton, which could have given him his first competitive senior appearance.

Instead, Gabriel’s decision to leave brought those plans to a halt.

His camp’s desire for a move has attracted attention from some of Europe’s biggest clubs, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain all reported to have shown interest.

Premier League clubs have also been linked with the teenager.

Real Madrid have previously been reported to be pushing strongly for his signature, with the possibility of Gabriel developing with Castilla offering a route into senior football.

Barcelona have also been repeatedly linked with the forward, and the latest Manchester Evening News report suggests the Catalan club could now be his destination if the necessary hurdles can be overcome.

United’s situation is therefore becoming increasingly delicate.

Gabriel remains contracted to the club for now, but his 16th birthday could change the landscape significantly, particularly because of his eligibility to use an Irish passport to facilitate a move to an EU club.

The youngster’s next step is now being closely watched across Europe, with United facing the possibility of losing a player who only months ago had become the youngest winner of two major individual honours connected to his age group.