Gabriel can be one of the world’s best says Neymar
GABRIEL Jesus is set to overtake Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the best players in the world - claims Neymar.
The City striker is among a trio of emerging players identified by Neymar as the next generation of global superstars - along with Antoine Griezmann and Paulo Dybala.
The 19-year-old made an incredible impact at City, following his £27m move from Palmeiras in January.
He scored three goals in his first two Premier League starts before a broken metatarsal ruled him out.
He is set to return before the end of the season, with Pep Guardiola hoping he will be fit for the FA Cup final - if City get past Arsenal in Sunday’s semi.
That is a measure of the impact the teenager has made in such a short space of time - and Brazilian team-mate Neymar is convinced he’s good enough to compete for the Ballon d’Or in the future.
He said: “Of the new generation, I like Griezmann very much, but I have a great affection for Gabriel Jesus.
“I love him for how he plays and because we play together in the Selecao and we did at the Rio Olympic Games.
“He has entered the main Selecao very well, he is a boy with a lot of potential.
“I will also say Dybala, the famous Argentinian left-footer. If you leave him alone, he can hurt you.” THE extra two yards makes all the difference at Wembley … and that is why Raheem Sterling should return to the City team on Sunday.
The Blues head to London for their FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal, with Pep Guardiola facing the same old dilemma – how to fit LIVERPOOL have dismissed suggestions they will be signing Joe Hart this summer.
A newspaper report yesterday claimed Jurgen Klopp was ready to spend £20m to secure the England international, having seen his keepers Simon Mignolet and Loris seven top midfielders and attackers into six places.
That dilemma is likely to get a lot worse in a week or two, judging by the progress Gabriel Jesus appears to be making in his recovery from a broken metatarsal.
But for now, one man must take a fall, and the dimensions of Wembley, which has always been one of the biggest pitches, plays a part. Karius struggle this season. City were said to be more willing to let Hart join one of their rivals this summer, having sanctioned a loan move to Torino last summer.
But a Liverpool spokesman called the article ‘completely fictitious’, hoping to call time on that idea.
Serie A side Torino have enjoyed having Hart in their team and are keen to keep him next season, although they have admitted
City’s width has been a potent weapon all season, especially since Leroy Sane began to hit his straps.
Sterling was poor last time out against Arsenal, in the 2-2 draw at the Emirates three weeks ago, and was unceremoniously hauled off at half-time.
Pep Guardiola sounded brutal in giving his reasons for Sterling’s withdrawal, saying: “I wanted more passes, simple as that.”
But the winger has not gone sour overnight, and he will be bursting to put that right.
It means changing a team that did so well at Southampton in the second half – and Yaya Toure should be the unlucky man.
He actually replaced Sterling at the Emirates, but the result was that a 2-1 lead was ceded in the second half, and Guardiola’s plan of asserting some control over the game did not really work.
The other big question to be answered after that league stalemate lies in central defence. they will struggle to buy him outright.
“I would like Hart to stay at Torino, but we know – the club and him too – that we can’t buy him,” said their coach Sinisa Mihajlovic.
“At the most, we can take him on loan for another year, but it depends on what Manchester City want to do and what he wants too.
“We would like to know this soon because if we have Hart here next John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi played last time, and neither was anywhere to be seen as Shkodran Mustafi towered above the defence to head home from a corner. Vincent Kompany offered the solution last week at St Mary’s – the way he bullied Manolo Gabbiadini out of the game, asserted an aerial superiority and organised those around him, was a stark contrast to most of the rest of City’s season. Stones has done little wrong – in fact his improving form in the last three months would normally make him a shoo-in. But sometimes you have to stick with the men in possession, and Nicolas Otamendi was, in some ways, even more effective than Kompany at Southampton. He looked inspired by the skipper’s presence, and his aggression and mobility were controlled. With Fernandinho anchoring, the rest of the team picks itself, and Jesus Navas has done well enough at right-back to keep his place, even against Alexis Sanchez. Stu Brennan year then that is one thing, but if not we have to make other plans.
“Torino can only take him on loan for another year so it is up to City to decide, but we need a decision quickly so we can plan the future.”
Hart has spoken fondly of his time at City but admitted recently that his time at the Etihad could be over as he looks to be a part of a team ‘that wants me to be their keeper’.