Gabriel Jesus: Manchester City new boy reveals how Pep Guardiola phone call lured him to the Etihad
Says £27million Brazilian whizkid: 'He made me feel very safe about his project; made me realise I’d love to work with him'
BRAZILIAN whizkid Gabriel Jesus has revealed a phone call from Pep Guardiola was key to him agreeing to join Manchester City.
Striker Jesus, 19, signed for £27m and due to join the Premier League leaders from Palmeiras in January, was hugely impressed with what the City boss had to say.
He explained: “It was a complicated decision, but in the end my desire to learn won.
"The presence of Guardiola as a manager at City and the fact that it is a great club were very important factors in my final decision.
"Guardiola’s phone call was a huge part of me deciding to go there. It made me realise that I’d love to work with him. I don’t know him personally yet but he already made me feel very safe about his project there.”
Jesus was wanted by Barcelona, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain, so Guardiola's phone call was a real coup.
And the teenager, famed as much for his workrate and willingness to track back and help out defensively, is ready to mix it with Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling, David Silva, Nolito, Kelechi Iheanacho, Kevin De Bruyne, Leroy Sane and Jesus Navas for a place in the City starting line-up.
For Palmeiras Jesus played wide on the left before Cuca, the manager, moved him into the centre where he delivered 11 goals in 18 league games. “I think I will fight for a place as a winger in the team,” he said.
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“I actually prefer playing as a left-winger rather than a striker, but I just want to be very clear that I’m willing to play in either position.
"I am often prepared to give up a position high on the pitch and help out defensively because some good marking and tackling can result in a goal for my team in the end. I’d like to think that I’m a versatile player.
"My mother has a go at me when I don’t track back...”
Mum Vera, a cleaner, raised Jesus and his three brothers on her own after her husband died when Gabriel was young. “A football player grows up faster than other people,” said Jesus. “I grew up very quickly because of the difficulties and responsibilities that I have always had.”
This summer Jesus won Olympic gold with Brazil and then made his debut for the senior team, scoring two goals in a 3-0 away win against Ecuador.
But he's not one to get carried away with his success. “I try to manage my progress in a down-to-earth fashion,” he added. “Some players win a trophy and think that they are on top of the world. I don’t let it go to my head. People idolise me for winning the Olympics but I keep saying: ‘It is just a medal.
“All this change does not scare me at all. My life has always been full of challenges. Obviously this [joining City] is a bigger one, but the best battles are given to the best warriors. I will listen to the manager’s opinion and his advice in order to improve and adapt as fast as I possibly can.”
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