Manchester City midfielder Fernandinho has revealed that La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid were both interested in signing striker Gabriel Jesus.
The 19-year-old forward agreed to join the Citizens in the summer from Palmeiras and made his first appearance for the club in January, hitting the ground running by scoring on his first two Premier League starts, including a brace against Swansea City last weekend.
However, it all could have been very different for Jesus, with offers from the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid meaning he could have missed out on a Premier League move.
According to Fernandinho, his persuasion convinced the youngster make the move to the north West of England instead of the La Liga and UEFA Champions League giants.
“I just asked him to choose City – to come here. I talked to him and was honest with him,” Fernandinho told the Sun.
“A lot of big teams wanted to sign him, especially Barcelona and Real Madrid. I just told him ‘look, you can take the team sheets of Barcelona and Madrid and see what player of 19 years old plays there in the starting 11.’
“But you have Pep here at City and he loves to have young players in the team – to give this opportunity for young players. I said to him ‘you will have the opportunity to play here. Maybe not in the starting 11 all the time, but to come on regularly’.
“He made his choice. I just talked to him as a friend.”
Jesus’ bright start to life at Manchester City has led to Sergio Aguero being forced to take up a role on the substitutes bench.
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