Gabriel Jesus has revealed the difficult circumstances surrounding his departure from Arsenal, shedding light on a challenging final period at the Emirates before securing a move to Barcelona. The 29-year-old Brazilian striker completed his transfer to the Catalan club for €10 million on deadline day last summer and made an impressive debut, coming off the bench in Barcelona's dominant 5-0 victory over Valencia in La Liga.
Isolation at Arsenal
Jesus opened up to Mundo Deportivo about the treatment he received during his final weeks at Arsenal. The striker participated fully in pre-season training, aware that his opportunities would be limited, but was taken aback when the club suddenly withdrew him from team sessions. "I was training the entire pre-season with Arsenal as usual," Jesus explained. "Obviously, I knew I probably wouldn't play there or get many chances, but no one told me that directly."
Rather than allow frustration to derail his professionalism, Jesus maintained his fitness independently. "They put me to train on my own. I kept training and gave my best to be ready in case I got the chance to play at the highest level again," he continued, demonstrating the mentality that has defined his career as a forward competing in elite European competitions.
Barcelona's Swift Resolution
The transition to Barcelona proved decisive and swift. Jesus credited Deco, Barcelona's sporting director, with facilitating the move that allowed him to fulfil his ambition of wearing the Blaugrana shirt. "We knew I had a chance to come, and I said yes immediately, whatever it took," Jesus stated. "I am extremely happy to be here." His immediate impact at the Camp Nou signals Barcelona's gamble on the experienced striker could pay dividends as they compete for La Liga and European silverware in the 2024-25 season.
