Barça activates the alternative to Julián Álvarez and Hansi Flick already has his center forward
The Barça team signs Gabriel Jesus and aims to incorporate the Argentine attacker in new market windows
BarcelonaBarça has reached an agreement with Gabriel Jesus, Arsenal forward, for 10 million euros plus variables associated with titles and performance. The Brazilian had lost prominence in the "gunner" attack and has become a "market opportunity" to reinforce the attack, according to sources from the blaugrana club. Jesus's contract was due to expire in June 2027.
In this way, Hansi Flick now has a replacement at the top of the attack after the departure of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres. From Barça, the same sources assure that this signing is not incompatible with the intention of signing Julián Álvarez, but for "upcoming market windows".
The 29-year-old attacker, who will sign for two seasons with Barça and another optional one, could arrive this Sunday in Barcelona and this Monday, as reported by the journalist specialized in the transfer market Fabrizio Romano, would undergo a medical examination. Mundo Deportivo has reported the operation. The transfer market closes this Tuesday at midnight.
He arrived in Europe through Pep Guardiola
Jesús arrives from Arsenal, but in Europe, his career stands out above all for his time at City, under Pep Guardiola, where he arrived from Palmeiras in 2017. Even then, Barça had been interested in signing him, but it was the Manchester club that took him.
At City, he played 236 matches, scored 95 goals, and won 11 titles, including four Premier Leagues. With Arsenal, he has played 123 matches, scoring 32 goals. With Mikel Arteta's team, he won another Premier League, last season's, but he had a secondary role in the team.
Between an injury, a rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the left knee that kept him out of action for 11 months, and which ended up losing him his starting status at the end of last season, Jesús wanted to find prominence outside of London. With the impossibility of signing Julián Álvarez this summer, the Brazilian has chosen Barça and Barça has chosen him. It is an alternative that Deco proposed to Flick and that the coach, without Julián, the first option, nor Lautaro Martínez, the second option, has embraced.
With the Brazilian national team, Jesús has 64 international caps and 19 goals. Among his main achievements are the 2019 Copa América and the 2016 Rio Olympic gold medal. He also participated in the 2018 Russia and 2022 Qatar World Cups.