With both players close to the start of what all hope are glittering careers, anticipation over what the future could hold is clear to see from fans, jounalists and pundits alike.
The Guardian’s Daniel Harris wrote: “Gabriel Jesus’s pedigree is unarguable. Born in São Paulo, he grew up in the Jardim Peri favela and it was there, playing barefoot on concrete pitches, he developed typically Brazilian skills: he is explosive, inventive and bold, with balance and dexterity verging on the ludicrous.
“’I’m a fan of Gabriel and I look at him and see myself when I was younger,’ none other than Ronaldo told Globo TV. ‘I see many similarities between us.’ There can exist no higher praise, though the media have dubbed him the new Neymar.”
Over at Goal.com Daniel Edwards has more information on his footballing education: “The player will stay in Sao Paulo until December, when the move will be completed. But it is nevertheless a coup for City. Real Madrid, Barcelona and Manchester United were all reported suitors, but it was ultimately the Citizens and Pep who convinced him the club were his best bet for the future. Gabriel’s record so far suggest they have picked up a youngster of the highest quality.
“The Sao Paulo native grew up in the modest Jardim Peri suburb, on the northern side of the metropolis, and quickly made a name for himself in Paulista youth football. His big break came in 2012, playing for the amateur Anhanguera team, when he smashed 29 goals to earn himself both the Copa Sao Paulo Under-15 top scorer award and a move to the Verdao.
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“In his first season with the Brazilian heavyweights Gabriel Fernando, as he was known back then, helped himself to 16 goals playing a year up in the U-17 division. Even better was to come the following year, with an incredible 38 goals in 22 outings to set the all-time record for the tournament.”ESPN columnist Simon Curtis has spotted a pattern in City’s summer transfer activity, one that should please the fans!
“There may be as many as four more new recruits in the City pipeline, but the signings of Sane, Jesus and Nolito signal the intent of new manager Pep Guardiola to take City’s fight to the flanks.” he reflected, before adding: “Sane’s wing play for Schalke last season saw him promoted to Germany’s Euro 2016 squad, where he ended up playing in just 11 minutes of the semifinal game vs. France in the Germans’ ill-fated 2-0 defeat. Despite this, he had already managed 33 games for his club in a breakthrough 2015-16 season, scoring eight goals in the process.
“Although the youngster has been used in a variety of forward roles by Schalke, his main threat comes down the right, where his swiftness and deft touch have put him firmly in the spotlight. It is a thrilling prospect for City supporters brought up on the delights of fast, carefree wing play down the generations. With the prospect of a Navas/Sane threat down the right and Raheem Sterling/Kevin De Bruyne arrowing in from the other flank, City look capable of providing clubs with new headaches to cure in the coming months.”
Finally, head this way to see a clip of Gabriel Jesus in action on BTSport and stay tuned to www.mancity.com for all the latest news.
