MANCHESTER CITY’S NEW BRAZILIAN SENSATION LOOKING TO CAP DREAM YEAR
SAO PAULO: After winning an Olympic gold medal, scoring five goals in his first six Brazil appearances and signing for Manchester City, Gabriel Jesus is looking to cap an unforgettable year this weekend with a Brazilian league title.
His club Palmeiras need just one point from their last two games to claim their first league crown since 1994, which would mark the fondest of farewells for the latest sensation to come out of Brazil.
“It is going to crown the year that I am having,” said the 19-year-old striker, who will join Manchester City in January.
“I think Sunday will be a tough game (against Chapecoense) but it is up to us and we are close to fulfilling the goal that we had at the start of the year.”
Even after taking Brazil’s award for young player of the year last year, Gabriel Jesus could not have imagined in his wildest dreams how perfect the next year would be.
He first established himself in the Palmeiras side that reached the semi-finals of the Paulista state championship.
Then he played for Brazil’s Olympic team that beat Germany in the final at a packed Maracana Stadium to win the gold medal for the first time.
His performances won him a call-up to the main squad and he scored five goals in his first six games, helping a rejuvenated Brazil to six consecutive wins and top spot in the qualifying table to reach the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
In between he signed for Premier League side City for a fee reported to be £27 million.
“I was very happy with the year I’ve had and what I’ve won,” he said.
“Without doubt all the moments were unforgettable, in the Olympics and with Palmeiras and Brazil. I can’t discount any of them because they are all part of my life and it has been sensational.”
He is excited about his impending move to England to play for City under former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola and understands he may not be an automatic first choice, but says his goal is to keep learning and progressing.
“I accept that, but I’ll be looking to adapt all the time and not lose my focus for a minute, because I want to go there to help the team,” he said.
“That’s what’s important and that’s what’s in my head. Whatever I can do to adapt as soon as possible I will do. I’m dying to get over there and help Manchester as much as I can.”
Gabriel’s coach at Palmeirs, Cuca, said the teenager had the potential to be among the top 10 players in the world.
“He may not be mature for England, but he is a starter for Brazil, and will be very important and a starter at City,” said Cuca. “You cannot think that at 19 he is at his peak. He will still improve 30 percent or 40 percent.
“Experience will give him more maturity. He will do this by himself, not Cuca or Guardiola. In England, football is more tactical and he will learn many things, establishing himself among the top 10 in the world. He is a young man with great technique, strength and speed.
“And he has a characteristic: he enjoys physical confrontation and knows how to use it to his advantage.”