Pep Guardiola recently spoke about Gabriel Jesus leaving Manchester City this summer, admitting he wanted to keep the 25-year-old but granted his departure as Jesus wanted the move away.
The Brazilian international ended a five-and-a-half-year stay at the Etihad Stadium, having won four Premier League titles, four League Cups and one FA Cup, and has joined an Arsenal side that finished outside of the Champions League places last season.
Where will Manchester City finish in the Premier League this season?
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th or lower
Jesus has renewed acquaitances with ex-City assistant manager Mikel Arteta and believes the Gunners manager will get the best from his as a striker after being used in a wider role by Guardiola.
City bagged themselves a tidy profit on Jesus by selling him for £45m, having signed him for £28.8m, but Guardiola would have been happy if he stayed. The 25-year-old was out of contract in 2023 and wasn’t signing a new deal, so City had little choice.
Guardiola said of his exit via Manchester Evening News: “I was incredibly happy with Gabriel. If (he) stayed longer there would be no problem. (He) proved last year how good (he is). We are sad because Gabriel was incredibly beloved.
“But sometimes the players want more, and the club feel it is the right moment to do it. But the most important thing is they leave happy with the club and what they have done.” It’s a shock to see Jesus leave City after winning the league title, but Guardiola’s squad rotating has got under the nose of Aymeric Laporte, Ilkay Gundogan and Raheem Sterling.
Does Pep’s recent admission that Jesus left on his own accord suggest the City manager might be hard to work for due to his demanding nature and football obsession? Starting the Brazilian in only 21/38 league games and 3/12 Champions League outings can’t have helped.
In other news, Fabrizio Romano says Southampton ‘submitted bid’ for Liam Delap