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Gabriel Jesus: I decided to join Man City after call from Pep Guardiola

gabriel jesus man city

Sometimes when you're setting up for an interview, things don't go to plan.

A security guard won't let you in, the room's too small, the manager changes training, there's a dog barking loudly right outside the window (happens quite a bit at Arsenal) or - as on this occasion - the camera's full of water because the cameraman was filming a cricket promo on the beach the day before.

Days like this can be stressful and I found myself sending a text to my producer to moan.

His reply reminded me it wasn't all bad. "You might be about to interview a future world superstar," it read, basically telling me to stop whinging and get on with it.

To me that text captured the mood around Gabriel Jesus at the moment. He's only started one Premier League match, only scored one tap-in, and yet it does feel like a special footballer might have arrived on our shores.

Manchester City's Brazilian striker Gabriel Jesus celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the English Premier League football match between West Ha
Image: Gabriel Jesus celebrates his debut goal in English football at West Ham

Ten minutes after the text, with the camera fixed and just as I was halfway through making a calming cup of tea, the young boy (footballers always look younger in their 'civvies' than they do in their kits, I think) of whom so much is expected, arrived for his interview.

He was smiley, just as he is on the pitch, happy to try a few lines in English and didn't tut when I asked if he wouldn't mind taking off the cap, with a big logo on it, that was perched on his head (there are broadcasting rules about these things).

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Most importantly he talked openly about the journey which has seen him go from a Sao Paolo street football to (perhaps) the Premier League's next superstar.

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Highlights from Manchester City's 4-0 win over West Ham

"At five or six I started to go to the streets to play football," says the 19-year-old, who is one of four brothers.

"And at eight, me and some of my friends would go far away just to play football. It's a passion that has dominated my life.

"A lot of the time it was three against three, with goals made with flip flops. We stayed there playing until our mothers would tell us to go inside."

From the street it was on to bobbly clay pitches, where more organised games were played. These pitches honed his touch, taught him to improvise and are where he first learned the fighting qualities which look set to serve him well in the Premier League. It was also on these pitches that he began to think big.

I'm a fighter on and off the pitch, I'm a guy that hates to lose, I don't like it in anything. That's how I describe myself, a humble guy and a fighter
Gabriel Jesus

"I think it influenced me a lot, helped me a lot. To see what I saw in the Varza (local clay pitch), I didn't want it for me, so it helped me a lot to keep dreaming, to continue battling, to achieve my dreams to get where I am today."

Once he was spotted by home-town club Palmeiras, things began to move quickly. An avalanche of goals at youth level saw his reputation grow even before he broke into the first team.

When he did break through, he won 'Best Newcomer' in a team that won the Copa do Brasil and followed that by winning 'Player of the Year' in a side that claimed the title.

Add to that getting into the Brazil team, winning an Olympic gold medal and now, his move to Manchester City, and you've got a career that has blossomed at breakneck speed.

Of course, it might not have been City. He could have chosen Real Madrid or Barcelona, but a call from Pep Guardiola sealed it.

Manchester City new signing Gabriel Jesus
Image: Gabriel Jesus joined Man City in January from Palmeiras after they agreed a deal last summer

"Everyone that took part in my transfer did it it perfectly and the decision was made when I received a call from Guardiola. He was the only manager that called me, and I was very happy.

"I always watched the Premier League and followed Manchester City, I was very happy and fulfilled to put on this shirt, that has big weight, and also to complete a dream to play in Europe."

The surprise has been how quickly he has settled. He caught the eye with his cameo against Spurs and in the FA Cup against Crystal Palace, and then was instrumental as City beat West Ham 4-0. He capped his performance with an assist and then his goal.

"I was in disbelief, I looked at the linesman to see if he didn't give an offside," he says, sounding a bit shocked himself at how well it's gone.

"In Brazil, when it's a goal, the linesman starts to run, here they stay put, so I was worried, but I'm very happy to have been able to score my first goal for Manchester City."

If he's coping well with the league, the same cannot be said for the weather.

"England up to now has being very cold, very cold, but I'm getting used to it," he says, laughing.

"(As for) the Premier League, I see that it's a different league, very competitive, very strong, but I like leagues like that, where nothing is easy, and I hope, together with my team-mates we can win it with Manchester City."

If the rest of the City side can match his determination, they might yet prove their manager wrong, and catch Chelsea this season.

"I'm a fighter on and off the pitch, I'm a guy that hates to lose, I don't like it in anything. That's how I describe myself, a humble guy and a fighter," Jesus adds.

With that his first sit-down interview in England was over and he was taken into a room full of journalists from around the world, who'd come to see what all the fuss is about.

Maybe, like me, they have producers who think the Premier League has found it's next superstar.

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