GABRIEL JESUS
Gabriel Jesus has arrived in England as the young Brazilian
prepares to begin his career with Manchester City.
The 19-year-old agreed a £27million move to the Etihad
Stadium last summer but remained in his homeland with Palmeiras for the
remainder of the year, where he helped the Sao Paulo-based club win the league
title for the first time in 22 years prior to an emotional departure.
He touched down at Manchester Airport on Tuesday morning and
was all smiles at the start of his new life in Europe as he headed to a taxi
from the arrivals terminal.
As well as his mother, Jesus has been accompanied to England
by childhood friends Fabio Lucio and Higor Braga. The trio are thought to
be inseparable having grown up together in the Jardim Peri neighbourhood, in
the Sao Paulo district of Cachoeirinha.
Dressed in a grey adidas hoodie, blue jeans and a black
baseball cap, Jesus carried two bags of duty free as he shook hands with fans
and posed for pictures after arriving in the city.
He will have plenty to adapt to after moving nearly 6,000
miles from home, perhaps most notably the English weather.
Jesus left at a time when residents of his home city are
enjoying temperatures nearing 30 degrees Celcius, but he appeared to struggle
with the winter conditions in Manchester as he and his travelling party huddled
in the back of the cab.
He will also need to adapt to the style of football in the
Premier League, with a potential first appearance coming at West Ham in the FA
Cup on Friday night.
The youngster left Brazil following a party, thrown in his
honour, on Sunday, where 500 well-wishers ensured one of the country's most
promising talents was given a spectacular send off.
His departure was an emotional one, though, with Jesus
admitting leaving Palmeiras after so many years was a tough decision.
'It's time for goodbye,' he wrote on Instagram. 'How hard it is to say goodbye to
something that has done you so well. How painful it is to say goodbye to what
has transformed your life and your family.
GABRIEL JESUS
FACTFILE
Born: April 3, 1997, Sao Paulo (age: 19)
Position: Forward
Clubs:
2015-16 Palmeiras
2016-present Manchester City
International:
Brazil - 6 caps, five goals
Honours:
Brazilian league - 2016
Brazilian cup - 2015
Olympic gold medal - 2016
'I arrived at Palmeiras a child and I remember every day in
here. As every walk had its difficulties, difficult moments that made him want
to give up, but I believed in my dream and it came to fruition.
'I will never forget what I lived here. When I close my eyes
comes the sound of the crowd singing "Gloria alleluia, it's Gabriel
Jesus".
'But life has to go on and it's time to say goodbye, say no,
thank you.'
His arrival in Manchester on Tuesday is not the first time
he's visited the city, though, following a whistle-stop tour in December at the
conclusion of the Brazilian season.
Jesus had dinner with fellow Brazilians Fernando and
Fernandinho, as well as manager Pep Guardiola, before taking in City's home
defeat by Chelsea.
'The manager seemed like a great person,' Jesus said.
'Everyone knows his coaching quality, but the character is more
important.
'Our first meeting was good. He's a technician who likes
Brazilians. He gave me a plan. Since he first called me, our contact has been
very good.
'Guardiola gave me a hard time, saying I can't drink Coke. I
don't even like it!'
He was mobbed by fans at various points during his visit in
December, with supporters wanting pictures and autographs, while the striker at
one point bizarrely signed a block of cheese for one female fan who
was out Christmas shopping.
City's new forward has a special connection to the No 33
shirt, having worn it at Palmeiras and is set to don it again when he begins
his career with the Premier League club.
'I had told them it’s hard without the 33,' Jesus said. 'I
want this number because I used it since I was promoted at Palmeiras.'
He arrives at a time when City are sitting third in the
Premier League table, seven points behind leaders Chelsea, and is now set to
put pressure on Sergio Aguero and Kelechi Iheanacho for a place in
Guardiola's forward line.
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