Man City star Gabriel Jesus looking to seal Brazil World Cup place against England at Wembley
The 20-year-old has been a revelation since joining Manchester City from Palmeiras, he has won 16 games and scored 14 goals in 20 Premier league appearances
GABRIEL JESUS claims he is still not sure of earning a place in Brazil’s World Cup squad.
The Manchester City hitman has taken the Premier League by storm since completing his £28.6million move from Palmeiras in January.
He has notched 16 goals in 26 games for his new club and seven in 12 for a resurgent Brazil team.
But ahead of Tuesday’s friendly date with England under the Wembley Arch, Jesus is still sweating on cementing a spot in Brazil’s squad for next summer’s finals in Russia.
The 20-year-old Samba star claimed: “When they say I already have a guaranteed place to go to the World Cup, I think that is a bit too hasty because this is the Brazil team. I don’t see it this way.
“No one has a guaranteed seat. Today you can play, tomorrow there is another one in your place.
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“You have to get there because you deserve it and do a good job both in the national team and for your club.
“So you must put together a sequence. I try to do as much here as when I am with Manchester City. I can always improve.”
Brazil’s legendary goalkeeper Julio Cesar has been mightily impressed with Jesus’ progress in England.
And the veteran of 87 caps also believes a Brazil team, rejuvenated under manager Tite, can win a sixth World Cup and first for 16 years next summer.
He told ESPN: “Gabriel went to Europe young and straight into the Premier League, but he did well immediately. He’s a player who we will hear a lot about.
“I think Brazil have a very good chance of winning the World Cup. We have a coach who is doing a great job since the moment he joined.
“We’re one of the favourites and this is Neymar’s moment now. The whole world is following him and seeing how he does.”
Both Neymar and Jesus (celebrating, below) scored in Brazil’s most recent game — Friday’s 3-1 win over Japan in Lille.
Superstar Neymar has 53 goals for his country but left the post-match press conference in tears.
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The striker, 25, is upset at reports he is regretting his £198m world-record move from Barcelona to Paris Saint- Germain and angry over stories of bust-ups with clubmate Edinson Cavani.
There have also been whispers he does not get on with Brazil coach Tite.
But Neymar said: “I just want to be happy. I’m not here to make or create trouble with anybody. I know my role on the pitch and I do what my coach asks me to do.
“I had a chat with Tite because these things are hurting me — every day there are these stories.
“I’m here because I asked to be here. It’s going really well in Paris, I’m really happy here and motivated. I’m a player who wants to give everything on the pitch.
“What bothers me is everyone creating stories about me, with my coach and with Cavani. It’s not true.”
Tite added: “I keep hearing that I have problems with Neymar — and I am sick of hearing that.
“I can talk about Neymar’s temperament, his good nature and his big heart.”
