Wednesday, 21 September 2016

Gabriel Jesus: ‘I like a challenge. The biggest battles go to the biggest warriors’

The brilliant Palmeiras and Brazil forward tells the Guardian about the phone call from Pep Guardiola that convinced him to join Manchester City – and that his mum is never pleased with him unless he helps out defensively too

No one wants to be told off by their mother and Gabriel Jesus is no different. The Brazilian wonderkid, who signed for Manchester City in the summer for £27m and will join the Premier League leaders in January, has the potential to become one of the best forwards in the world but what makes him stand out even more is his desire to also help out defensively.

It is not a trait he shares with too many forwards but then they may not get a rollocking from their mother if they do not help out at the back. Gabriel Jesus does. “Yes, it’s true that my mother has a go at me when I don’t track back,” he says in his first interview with non-Brazilian media since signing for City. “We are very, very close and she demands a lot from me, which is great. She only praises me if I have done something worthy of praise. I am really happy to have a mum like that, who really cares. She always tells me the truth and her sincerity helps me a lot.”

Continue reading...Football | The Guardian http://ift.tt/2cPKMLU