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Who is Manchester United target Gabriel Barbosa?

Gabriel of Santos celebrates their second goal during the match between Santos and Internacional for the Brazilian Series A
Image: Manchester United, Leicester and Inter Milan are among the clubs interested in Gabriel Barbosa

With the transfer window in full flow, Premier League clubs have been busy getting deals done before the August 31 deadline.

Spain, Italy and Germany are all popular leagues for English clubs to search for targets, but what about Brazil and the Rio 2016 Olympics?

According to reports in the British press, Manchester United, as well as Leicester, have been keeping a close eye on one of the Games' biggest names: Brazil's Gabriel Barbosa.

The 19-year-old has scored twice for his country in Rio to help them to the semi-finals of the men's competition, attracting United and Premier League champions Leicester among plenty of others this summer.

But who is the young striker nicknamed Gabigol? We take a look...

BRASILIA, BRAZIL - AUGUST 07: Dhurgmam Ismael #15 and Gabriel Barbosa #9 Brazil during the men's soccer match bewtween Brazil and Iraq at Mane Garrincha St
Image: Gabriel Barbosa (right) is a transfer target for Manchester United among others

FACTFILE

Age: 19

Also See:

Position: Forward

Club: Santos

Nationality: Brazilian

International caps: 4

International goals: 2

Youth career

Gabriel joined Santos' youth set-up at the age of eight and during eight seasons in the youth leagues he scored over 600 goals, picking up the nickname 'Gabigol'.

He signed his first professional deal with the Brazilian club in 2012 and it included a £40m release clause, showing how highly rated he was.

At the age of 16 he made his senior debut against Flamengo in what was Neymar's last game at the club. And in a clever marketing ploy, the youngster dubbed "the new Neymar" played 20 minutes of the match together with Neymar.

Brazil's player Gabriel Barbosa kicks the ball during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Men's First Round Group A football match against Iraq, at the Mane Garrinc
Image: Barbosa plays his club football for Santos in Brazil, Neymar's former club

Santos

Gabriel has flourished since taking on the task of replacing Neymar. He needed under three months to net his first goal after his early debut, as Santos fans took him in as their new star man. 

He went from strength to strength - scoring big goals including the club's history-making 12,000th against Botafogo in February 2014. His first league strike came in April of the same year, against Sport Recife.

Of course, plenty more followed. He finished that season with a huge 21 goals to his name, 10 ahead of the club's big-money man Leandro Damiao. He had been signed for the highest fee ever to be paid by a Brazilian club for a national player, but couldn't get anywhere near the goalscoring levels of his young team-mate.

Despite impressing, 'Gabigol' had to settle for a place on the bench at the start of the next campaign, until Robinho finished his loan spell from AC Milan. Again it was goals galore, in the Brasileirao, the Copa do Brasil, and Serie A.

Brazil's player Neymar reacts during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games Men's First Round Group A football match against Iraq
Image: The young 19-year-old has been labelled 'the new Neymar' (pictured at Rio 2016)

International career

Gabriel received his first call-up to the Brazil squad in March 2016, replacing the suspended Neymar for a 2018 World Cup qualifier against Paraguay.

The 19-year-old was initially made to wait for his debut, though, as he was an unused substitute in the 2-2 draw in Asuncion.

Fortunately he did not have to wait too long for a cap after being called up by Dunga for this summer's Copa America. He made his full Brazil debut in May, replacing Jonas and scoring in a 2-0 friendly win over Panama.

He now has four caps for his country with two goals.

Olympics

Playing alongside Neymar and Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel has been a key figure in Brazil's run to the semi-finals of the Olympics football tournament in Rio.

After two 0-0 draws in their opening two group games, the Santos forward scored twice as Brazil beat Denmark 4-0 to qualify for the quarter-finals.

There, he started and helped the team to a 2-0 win in a feisty match against South American rivals Colombia and is expected to line up against Honduras in Wednesday's semi-final.

Yago and Malcom of Corinthians fights for the ball with Gabriel of Santos during the match between Corinthians and Santo
Image: Gabriel was nicknamed Gabigol after scoring over 600 goals for Santos' youth sides

Summer interest

First it was Inter Milan, then Leicester City, and now Manchester United. Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and Juventus are also said to be interested. You name a club, they've probably been linked. 'Gabigol' is hot property, but where will he be plying his trade come September?

As it stands, United seems the most likely destination. Mourinho is already splashing the cash this summer and reports state he is a big fan of the young Brazilian.

Inter Milan have had a bid accepted for Gabriel, according to Santos president Modesto Roma, but reports in The Sun state that Mourinho is prepared to "blow the opposition out of the water" with a £30million offer in this window.

That said, with Brazil flying at Rio 2016 and them being the favourites to take gold, Gabriel's focus is understandably on that. Any deal for the forward is unlikely to come for at least another week, when we head towards Deadline Day at the end of the month.

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