Manchester City have completed the signing of the hottest prospect in Brasil, 19-year-old forward Gabriel Jesus. The initial fee is £27m and it could climb up to £31m. Barcelona were also interested in the player but Manchester City won this battle and signed the youngster on a five-year deal.
This is what Gabriel Jesus said for the City website:
“Manchester City is one of the best clubs in the world so I’m really pleased to sign. We have many great talents in the team and a fantastic manager in Pep Guardiola that I can learn so much from. I’m looking forward to showing the City fans what I can do and I think we’ll have a great future together.”
Gabriel Jesus will stay in his current club Palmeiras until the end of December, when the Brasilian season ends, and will then make the move to Manchester. He is little known outside Brasil but that may change quickly as he’s about to perform on the Olympics. Gabriel Jesus Txiki Begiristain, City’s director of football, said:
“We are delighted that Gabriel has chosen to join us. He is one of the most exciting young prospects in world football and plays the game in a spectacular way. We look forward to him making a big impact at Manchester City in January.”
Gabriel Jesus is predominantly a winger, but can also play the number 10 role or be the forward himself. It will definitely be up to Pep Guardiola to find the perfect position for the young star, but he probably already has a position in mind, otherwise he wouldn’t have signed him.
Take a look at what Gabriel Jesus can do and see for yourself what would his ideal position be.
City are also believed to be close to signing another 19-year-old from South America, Marlos Moreno, a Colombian striker who is expected to go straight out on loan to Deportivo de La Coruña. Talks are ongoing with Everton about defender John Stones who could cost up to £50m.
Manchester City already signed Leroy Sane, Nolito and Ilkay Gundogan. Aaron Mooy and Alexander Zinchenko also arrived at the club in this transfer window. Martin Demichelis and Richard Wright were released.
