Gabriel Jesus is a global superstar at Manchester City… but he has had to overcome personal tragedies en route to the top
Brazilian's wide grin has been a feature of his game since arriving at the Etihad but the striker suffered heartache as a kid
GABRIEL JESUS abides by his family motto of ‘Always Smile’ — despite being hit by a devastating series of tragedies as a child.
The Brazilian’s wide grin has become a feature of Manchester City since he arrived in January.
Staff at the Etihad say the striker, 20, is the sort of guy you want to be around — always happy, always dancing.
And right now he has plenty to be cheery about as the goals fly in and the wins stack up.
But his road to the top has been beset by more heartache than most could imagine.
So nobody should begrudge the £28.6million arrival from Palmeiras his success.
The sadness started before Jesus was even born. His father left his pregnant mother for another woman — and died soon afterwards.
Jesus’ mother Vera recalled: “I was pregnant with him and we separated. The father went away with someone else.
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“He wasn’t a bad person but I was left alone. I asked God for wisdom and health.”
Growing up without a father was tough for Jesus — and he felt envious looking at other happy families.
He said: “When I saw kids with their fathers, I felt quite jealous. But my mother looked after us, she was always my mother and my father.”
He lived with his mum and two older brothers Caique and Felipe — and they were joined by their sister Emanuele Fernanda after the family was hit by more agony.
Emanuele’s husband was killed in a motorcycle accident, leaving her a widowed mother of two.
Vera had to be strong once more. She said: “I demand respect because I brought the three boys up alone, with God’s help.
“Emanuele Fernanda is the oldest. She’s 30 and came to live with me to help bring up the other three. She gave me two grandchildren.”
All three boys were keen footballers yet, with no father to help out, just getting to training was a problem.
Jesus — who has beaten team-mate Sergio Aguero to the best goals-per-minute record in the history of the Premier League on 89 — teamed up with a club in Sao Paolo called Pequeninos do Meio Ambiente and was determined to persevere.
Vera said: “The two older ones gave up with time. Gabriel never gave up.
“It was difficult. I got up at 6am to go to work and I called Gabriel. I couldn’t take him, he went with his mates.
“A load of kids together. They took the bus and after that walked along a track for 40 minutes.”
His determination and skills, honed on the streets of his neighbourhood Jardim Peri, stood out.
Jesus was quickly snapped up by Palmeiras and starred for their academy.
But soon afterwards he was hit by more pain as one of his team-mates was killed.
A talented 16-year-old called Tininho was shot dead.
Gabriel said: “I remember him a lot. It sends shivers through me just to think of it.
“It’s difficult. But I know that God saved a very good place for him up there.”
Palmeiras academy coach Bruno Petri revealed the duo very were close both on and off the pitch.
Petri said: “A lot of people said that Tininho would get close to Gabriel, who had a lot of affection for him.
“They came from a similar area, they identified with each other, and always supported each other.”
As one of the top talents in the game, Jesus has thousands of adoring female fans.
Yet he has turned his back on love to ensure there are no distractions from his football.
And it certainly seems to be paying off, Jesus was this week nominated for the Golden Boy award — given to the best young player in Europe.
Vera explained: “Gabriel had a girlfriend, Isabela, whom I loved with a passion — as if she were my own daughter.
“She was my companion at all the youth games, we went together. She was a sweetheart.
“But he travelled a lot and it didn’t work out. It’s a shame.
“None of my boys are fathers. But none of them want to get married, they stay under my influence.” When Jesus scored soon after his City arrival, he put the ball up his shirt to celebrate — sparking rumours he was about to become a dad himself.
Yet when asked about it, he smiled: “Anyone who knows me also knows that if I did something as stupid as that, my mother would kill me.”
Vera also makes sure her family steers clear of any other vices — so alcohol, drugs and tobacco are all off limits.
She said: “He may be famous and get a lot of attention but at home, I command.”
Clearly mum’s the word for Jesus and always has been.
Yet as far as City fans are concerned, the secret is out — and they cannot keep quiet about their hero any longer.
