Haaland’s arrival is no reason for Jesus to head for City exit
MAYBE Gabriel Jesus leaves Manchester City because that is the club’s decision — but he would be mad to go of his own accord. Jesus, 25, has spent much of his time at the club playing second fiddle to various false nines, and now Erling Haaland is coming in the summer. But that means Pep Guardiola’s preferred shape will at last involve a striker — and Haaland is not going to play every game, or get the whole 90 minutes when he does. There will be cup ties, rotation, substitutions. It does not follow that Jesus would be unused and ignored. Divock Origi has been fourth or fifth choice at Liverpool for much of his career, yet has scored in the 2019 Champions League final and was the hero of the semi-final win over Barcelona, one of the greatest nights in the club’s history. He has won the Champions League, the Premier League, the UEFA Super League, the FIFA Club World Cup and the League Cup. He has one medal to go, and Liverpool face Chelsea in that final on May 14. This is what can happen at a big club. If City want him, Jesus should stay. Haaland or not, where is going to be better than City?