The race to sign JJ Gabriel is heating up—and FC Bayern seems to be right in the thick of it. After FC Barcelona and Real Madrid were most recently linked to the 15-year-old prodigy from Manchester United, there is now new information about the Munich club’s efforts.
According to the British newspaper *The Sun*, renowned player agent Ali Barat issaid to have arranged talks between FC Bayern and Real Madrid regarding Gabriel. Barat is the owner of the agency Epic Sports Football and is said to have been brought in by those close to the youngster as a potential intermediary for a transfer.
Interestingly, Barat is no stranger to Munich. In the summer of 2025, he played a key role in securing the loan of Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea FC to the German record champions.
This adds to the growing evidence that Bayern continues to play a role in the pursuit of Gabriel. The Munich club has been keeping an eye on the talented English forward for months. Most recently, sporting director Christoph Freund publicly confirmed that the club is familiar with the player.
Bayern faces competition from Real Madrid in the Gabriel race
“We know the player because he is very, very talented—an exceptional talent. But I can’t say any more than that,” Freund said recently. When asked whether there was currently any contact, however, the Bayern sporting director replied, “Not at the moment.”
The new report from England now paints a different picture. According to the report, Barat is said to have initiated talks with both Bayern and Real Madrid. How concrete these talks are and whether negotiations regarding a possible transfer are already underway remains unclear.
Gabriel recently informed Manchester United that he wanted to leave the club. According to The Sun, officials in Manchester no longer expect the teenager to return to the training center in Carrington or to play for United again.
This could present Bayern with an opportunity to bring one of the most sought-after talents of his age group to Munich.
Gabriel will turn 16 in October
However, a potential transfer is complicated due to Gabriel’s age. The offensive player won’t celebrate his 16th birthday until October 6. Therefore, if he were to move abroad, special FIFA regulations for underage players would have to be taken into account.
Among other things, this requires the new club to ensure not only the player’s athletic development but also his academic or vocational training.
Bayern faces plenty of competition. In addition to Real Madrid, FC Barcelona in particular has recently been mentioned as a possible destination. Gabriel is said to have had a special connection with Barça for years and was recently back in Catalonia.
Nevertheless, Bayern still appears to be in the running. The fact that, of all people, a consultant with excellent international connections is said to have arranged talks with the Munich club could bring new momentum to the negotiations.
Gabriel is considered one of the top talents at the United Academy. He most recently demonstrated his immense potential in the UEFA Youth League, when he scored a hat trick in a 5-0 win over Sabah.
Whether Bayern can actually turn this into a transfer remains to be seen. However, the new report shows that the Munich club has clearly not lost sight of Gabriel—and could once again play a key role in the international bidding war for the youngster.