Manchester City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has described new signing Gabriel Jesus as an “incredible talent” but has urged for patience as the Brazilian striker settles into the club.
Gabriel Jesus, 19, officially became a City player in August when the Premier League club completed a £27 million (Dh122.5m) deal with Palmeiras, but he arrived at the Etihad Stadium this month having stayed with Palmeiras on loan for the remainder of the Brazilian season.
It has been a sharp rise for the prodigious teenager, who only made his first-team debut for Palmeiras 22 months ago. Since then, he has been voted the best newcomer in the Brazilian league, played in the Under-20 World Cup final, won an Olympic gold medal, and made his debut for Brazil’s senior side, for whom he has already scored five goals in six starts.
Pele, Brazil’s greatest forward, has said Gabriel Jesus “is going to be our next great No 9”, while Ronaldo, another secured of his status among Brazil’s greats, “sees similarities” between himself and the young forward.
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While expectations on Gabriel Jesus are high at City, Al Mubarak has warned not to expect too much too soon from a player taking his first steps into European football.
“He’s an incredible talent. When we first started looking at him about a year ago, he was unknown. He wasn’t a global name by any means. We were successful in acquiring Gabriel to Manchester City in the summer. Even then he was still relatively unknown,” Al Mubarak said at The Atlantic Council Global Energy Forum in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
“He’s 19, he’s very young, Brazilian, going to Europe and the Premier League and we’re very conscious that we need to take care of him all the time and not put too much pressure on him.
“We have a lot of aspirations for him, but we have to be patient. He’s 19 and there’s still time to adjust.”
Gabriel Jesus could be in line to make his City debut against Everton on Sunday, although reports in the British media have claimed his registration will not be completed in time.
However, despite not playing a competitive fixture since November 27, when Palmeiras beat Chapecoense 1-0 to win a record ninth Brazilian title, Pep Guardiola expects Gabriel Jesus to get up to speed quickly.
“He was three weeks-one month off on holidays but he played two friendly games. He rested, he needed that,” Guardiola said last week ahead of City’s FA Cup third round tie at West Ham United.
“He has made two training sessions — this afternoon he will make his first training session with the team.
“We are delighted he is here and what we are looking for is for him to settle as soon as possible, to try to help him to be happy here and to have a good connection with his teammates.”
* The National staff
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